Many pupils not back in class until end of January

Tracy Kennedy: And still no future plan. Parents and teachers also need to know about those sitting exams. What is the plan? This knee-jerk reaction to pressure isn’t good enough.

Chris Crooks:

It’s an extra week to spend time with my boys and for that I’m grateful; 2020 has given me months more time with my children. As a business owner that has lost out in so many other ways, this extra family time is priceless.

Shereen Nicholl: Rightly so. When clusters of people get together in large numbers, it’s common sense to take steps to stop these clusters. Education is always available — your health isn’t.

Louise Kay: It’s so unfair on the children. They have been messed about all year and missed so much. What an absolute shambles. My poor boy doesn’t know whether he’s coming or going and keeps asking me about his transfer exam.

Cara Traynor: Yes, this isn’t ideal for our kids’ education, but it’s an extra week at home with my daughter.

Wendy Reid: Quite right, too. It wouldn’t be safe. The Health Minister was worried: the Education Minister needs to learn to listen.

Jennifer Mccauley :

Disgraceful that Years 8-11 are the scapegoats, I’ve been very happy with how my daughter’s school have dealt with this; she hasn’t had to isolate at all from schools went back in September.

Nuala Mccaffrey:

This is not the right decision. It’s as clear as mud for those sitting GCSES in just over a week’s time. Cancel the exams if kids aren’t back to school. It’s unfair to sit exams considering how the end of the last academic year was a shambles.