Schools plan forreturnas ‘good chance of one-metre gap’ by then
THE reopening of the country’s 4,000 primary and post-primary schools is on track for the start of the new academic year, but the big question is what social distancing rules will apply.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed it is the Government’s intention for schools to reopen from the end of August, the normal time for the new term to begin.
Mr Varadkar conceded that “might not mean that every student is able to return every day for the full day. But our objective is to have things as close to normal as possible”.
The current two-metre distancing protocol will make it almost impossible for schools to open in any meaningful way, because of the impact on the number of pupils that can be accommodated in classrooms, corridors and school buses.
There is growing confidence in Government that the rule will be relaxed with Mr Varadkar saying yesterday there’s a “good chance” the two metres can be reduced to one, if the spread of coronavirus continues to drop.
That would make a big difference to planning for the return of schools, although significant challenges would persist and no one is yet suggesting that there will be no rule around maintaining minimum distances.
Intensive planning for school reopening is under way under the auspices of the Department of Education, with a roadmap promised in two weeks amid hopes that the distance rule will be down to one metre by then.
A partial reopening of schools is in progress elsewhere and the experiences are being monitored.
“We’re learning very much from other countries that have reopened schools at least partially already.
“We’re also learning from countries that have had to re-impose restrictions.
“There have been outbreaks in schools in France. I heard today that 200 schools in South Korea have had to be closed and moved online because of outbreaks there,” Mr Varadkar said.
The Taoiseach said they were paying attention to “new and emerging research about the level of risk attached to schools reopening and as the research continues to come in we know that it’s not a ‘no-risk’ scenario but it is a low-risk scenario to open schools”.
Asked how long it would take for schools to return to a normal situation, he replied: “It will have to be phased in but as soon as is possible we’ll have every kid back in their class.”
As well as social distancing, the other major consideration for schools will be maintaining cleanliness and hygiene standards at a level to prevent or minimise the risk of spread of the virus.
Education Minister Joe McHugh has put the bill for robust daily cleaning in schools and the provision of hand sanitisers at €24m for the period between September and Christmas.
Schools are arguing they should not have to pick up those costs and, at a meeting this week between Department of Education officials and education stakeholders such as teacher unions, principals and school managers, a belief was formed that the State would pay.
Mr Varadkar said good progress was being made for summer education programmes for children with special educational needs and other special needs. “It will be voluntary but, certainly, for parents who want their children able to avail of it, we’re making very good progress on being able to put something in place in July and August,” he said.