Schools will ditch social distance rules to reopen

:: Minister says ‘only option’ is for a full return

THE Government is planning for the return of all pupils to schools, in a considered gamble that fully reopening education facilities is not a threat to public health.

It could mean schools applying different social distancing rules than other parts of society, in order to ensure children are not facing a part-time return to the classroom in the new academic year.

But teacher union leaders warn they will not tolerate a return to school in August or September that flouts whatever social distancing rules are in place at the time.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Education Minister Joe McHugh sent clear signals of the Government’s intent after a Cabinet meeting, which was given an update on the planning for reopening the country’s 4,000 schools, which have been closed since March 12.

According to the planning document, a two-metre distancing rule would limit primary pupils to attending school for one day a week and most post-primary pupils for two days a week.

If it was relaxed to one metre, primary pupils could attend for two-and-a-half days a week.

At post-primary level, it would mean some year groups attending school two-and-ahalf days a week, and other classes attending at or near a full-time basis.

Mr McHugh said: “Given the negative impact such restrictions would have on teaching and learning, I strongly believe the only option is the full return to education, taking all necessary public health precautions.”

Speaking after the Cabinet meeting, Mr McHugh said sending children back parttime for two or three days a week “is not a runner”.

He said: “If we just bring back 20pc or 50pc of students, we will do more damage because of educational neglect and potential regression.”

He said he wanted a “common-sense approach” to reopening with children and staff “far enough away from each other, so that they are not breathing on, or touching, each other”.

It would have to be accompanied with good hygiene practices and regular cleaning of commonly touched surfaces.

Mr McHugh said they were engaged in a risk-based assessment weighing up the damage to education and the safety of staff and pupils and they wanted to get the balance right, but they were working towards full return.

He said they were aiming for “a sustainable plan for reopening schools, which will protect the health of school communities while promoting the educational and development needs of the nation’s children”.

It includes a commitment to extra funding for school cleaning and hand sanitisers, which will be ordered through a centralised procurement process.

At a separate press conference, Mr Varadkar echoed his sentiments.

“We’re going to come up with a solution that allows all kids to return to school at the end of August, early September as originally indicated,” he said.

He added that there were “difficulties” relating to social distancing rules, but suggested “bespoke solutions” could be found for schools like the procedures being brought in for crèches.

Mr Varadkar said there was “concern” among parents at the consequences of applying the two-metre social distancing rules for schools and he wanted to reassure them that “what we’re working on is being in position so all kids can go back full time in August”.

Áine Lynch, of the National Parents’ Council Primary, said parents had been in touch with her office who, while they did not want anyone put at risk, wanted to see the return of pupils full-time to school being explored before falling back on a ‘blended-learning’ approach, which would involve children being in school on a part-time basis.

Ms Lynch added that neither parents nor children were homogeneous groups and account would have to be taken of different needs.

The Government has taken heart from reports that reopening of schools in other countries has not sparked a resurgence of Covid-19 cases and Department of Education officials will work closely with public health experts in the weeks ahead.

The direction the Government is headed for schools reflects emerging thinking that blanket restrictions may not need to apply in the future and that further cases or outbreaks will be handled locally.

Mr McHugh sparked some fury by announcing his intentions as engagement continues with stakeholders, including teacher unions, principals and school managers on reopening plans.

Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) president Seamus Lahart said “the oblique suggestion that classrooms could operate without social distancing is both odd and alarming”.

He said classrooms were workplaces – crowded ones at that. “These workplaces cannot be treated as if they enjoy some magical immunity from the risk that characterises other workplaces,” he added.