Pupils still attending school after parents test positive for Covid

Teachers left feeling stressed and scared by situation, claims union

SPECIAL school teachers in Northern Ireland, which are remaining open during the current lockdown, are living in fear after it emerged pupils who have a relative at home who has tested positive for coronavirus are still able to attend.

Stormont’s Education Committee was hearing evidence from teaching unions on the state of education during the Covid lockdown yesterday morning.

The committee was told that staff at one special school are “absolutely distressed” after learning of a case where the pupil is still attending.

Justin Mccamphill of the NASUWT informed the committee that Public Health Agency guidance allows for a child whose parent has tested positive for Covid to attend school after 10 days of no symptoms, even if another family member tests positive.

“This is extremely stressful for staff,” said Mr Mccamphill. “As a union we are calling on the PHA to publish their scientific evidence which says this is safe.

“Two metre social distancing is near enough impossible to manage in these school environments. Staff are working under immense pressure. This is having a big impact on mental health and wellbeing.”

The Irish Government has abandoned its timetable to reopen schools for primary pupils with special needs later this week after unions rejected the plans, while schools in Northern Ireland remain open, though one school, Fleming Fulton in Belfast, has moved to a two-day week for pupils.

Caroline Mccarthy of the Irish National Teacher’s Organisation told the committee that “teachers are battered at the minute beyond belief, exhausted, frightened, desperate to help, desperate to step-up”.

“The Department of Education and the Education Authority have no idea of the mitigation that is required to keep them safe,” she said.

“Parents are concerned about the health and wellbeing of pupils and families as a whole.

“There is limited, if any action, coming out of meetings the department is having with school leadership and the unions.”

Mr Mccamphill added that all teachers and education staff should now be prioritised to receive the Covid-19 vaccinations.

“Teachers are doing their best to deliver the curriculum online, but that is never going to replace face-to-face teaching,” he said.

“We believe it is right and proper that teachers in special schools are treated in the same way as those who work within health and social care as they are putting themselves at high risk for the greater good and to ensure vulnerable young people have respite.”

There was universal acknowledgement that teaching staff should be prioritised for Covid vaccination.

Scott Naismith, principal at Methodist College Belfast, told the committee: “Like everyone else, we look forward to public health guidance being able to confirm that it’s safe for pupils, staff and the community for schools to reopen. That should only happen when it’s absolutely safe to do so.”

Sinn Fein’s Karen Mullan said it was “absolutely beyond acceptable” that there is no confirmed plan for the vaccination of all school staff.

‘Two metre distancing is near impossible to manage in these school environments’