All smiles: minister poses for selfies as thousands of pupils back in classrooms
IT was a day of selfies, smiles and playground screams for Education Minister Peter Weir as thousands of pupils across Northern Ireland returned to the classroom.
Those in exam years in post primary schools were back to face-to-face teaching, while the return of the P4-P7 age year groups meant that for the first time this year primary schools across the country were full once more.
Pupils in P1-P3 and those at nursery school had returned on March 15, but Mr Weir said he’s delighted to see enjoyment back on the faces of so many more young people.
Visiting St Anne’s Primary School in south Belfast, Mr Weir said the onus was now on parents and society as a whole to make sure there is no return to lockdown.
“I think the enjoyment is clear for all to see,” he said after meeting pupils in the Finaghy primary school. “Today is a very positive day, a big step forward for our young people.”
“There’s a role in this for all of us, including parents, in ensuring we all play our part in creating an environment that not only allows schools to continue but also ensures we see a further reduction in the virus.
“But today we’re seeing the actual joy of pupils being back in class,” he said.
The minister also paid a visit to Wallace High School in Lisburn where it was straight back into lessons for the year 12-14 students, who will all now face grading assessments to determine this summer’s A-level, As-level and GSCE results.
There was time for the minister to pose for selfies with pupils, who had re-engaged with their friends over hot chocolate and ice-creams. Principal Deborah O’hare said it was great to see some pupils return.
“We’re absolutely delighted,” she said. “There’s no replacement for the social, face-to-face learning for pupils.
“They’re all in lessons with teachers today. It’s an opportunity for the young people to meet their friends, be with their teachers and ask those questions about assessment they may have.
“But today is about not worrying, it’s about being happy and reassured. Our goal this week is to have open and honest conversations,” she added.
“In any normal year there are pressures on examinations. But this is a different kind of pressure. We have to be really careful with explaining how that process is going to be managed,” she added.
“The right approach is just to take one day at a time. Things have been changing so quickly and often without notice. We need to take stock and reflect.”
In east Belfast the pupils, and some staff, at Braniel Primary School were jumping for joy, with bouncy castles lined up and ice cream vans in place for the second time in a week to welcome pupils.
But it all came with a warning from principal Diane Dawson that another lockdown is “unthinkable”.
“I wanted the children to come back today and reconnect with their friends,” she said.
“I know that many of them are anxious about their school work. I didn’t want them coming in and being sat down in a classroom and thinking they were going to be assessed because we are not doing that to them.”
Ms Dawson also urged against any potential return to home-learning in future.
“They can’t go out again, I really hope that our children are back for good now,” she said.
“It’s unthinkable, another lockdown for a school situation, it just can’t happen.”
Pupils in the remaining Years 8-11 are due to return to school on April 12 after the two-week Easter break.