Figure out a safe way to open schools and creches

Taoiseach orders Ministers Zappone and McHugh to produce back to school plans after childcare chaos and Leaving Certif icate f iasco

TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar brought a memo to Cabinet on Friday ordering the Ministers for Education and Children to bring reports outlining plans on how schools and childcare return in September, the Irish Mail on Sunday has learned.

A Minister at the meeting said it was done to: ‘Make sure we don’t have a repetition of the Leaving Cert debacle.’

The Minister added last night: ‘The Government agreed that its next Cabinet meeting will receive a report from the Minister for Education and a report from the Minister for Children as to how they intend to reopen schools and creches.

‘We need to see plans from Education to see how they are going to open the schools

‘We don’t want a repeat of Leaving Cert debacle’

in September. I thought it was highly significant that it was a memo brought by the Taoiseach that effectively orders those departments to come up with a plan.’

There was a belief that Mr Varadkar was contradicted by Dr Tony Holohan over the closures, but Government sources stressed the Taoiseach was making it clear he wants to see a clear plan for September.

‘September is not that far away, the secondary schools would be ending in the next two weeks anyway and the primary schools in six weeks,’ the source said. ‘What you do need to know now is when the last week of August arrives we will know how the schools will safely reopen.’

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil Education spokesman Thomas Byrne has written to Children’s Ombudsman Niall Muldoon asking him to become involved in the issue.

He said: ‘I believe that an independent voice of the child is required at all departmental consultations and, particularly, at primary level. I believe that the Ombudsman for Children is well placed to play that role and that you should seek to carve out that role. I am also writing to the Department making the same suggestion.

‘You publicly intervened twice at key moments in the controversy surrounding the Leaving Certificate exams.’

Ministers have given up hope on schools reopening in June and say a plan floated by Health Minister

Simon Harris to return children to schools early was shot down by the Department of Education.

There is also criticism in Government about the ‘intransigence’ of the teacher unions on proposals to return schools early.

Other Government sources said Mr Harris’s proposal for schools to reopen for one or two days a week was opposed by powerful figures at the Department of Education.

‘It was perceived that Simon had gotten ahead of himself, but there was legitimate expectation in the Government that the unions and the Department of Education would get together and organise something to alleviate pressure on parents and get the schools back,’ said a Minister. ‘But the Department of Education opposed that proposal, it has quietly gone away you’ll notice.’

There is sympathy in Government for the Department of Education which must keep many sectors happy – particularly teachers.

There has also been pressure from a number of Ministers – including Mr Harris – to get the schools open on even a temporary basis to relieve pressure on parents.

One Minister told the MoS last night: ‘My concern is for the continued socialisation of children, and their discipline. You’ll have children out of school for over six months and that is difficult.’

In response to criticisms that it has not opened schools earlier, the department said, ‘the Minister addressed the issue of school reopenings in the statements in the Dáil on Wednesday’.

The Department of Education, in a statement to the MoS, said it is basing all its decisions on advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).

‘Decisions in relation to schools reopening and operating will be underpinned by the ongoing advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team,’ said a spokesman.

‘Engagement is under way with stakeholders in the education sector to develop contingency plans for the reopening and operation of schools in an environment that may require social distancing and other public health requirements.

‘This work will be based on the National Return to Work Safely Protocol and will also be informed by guidance and experience from other jurisdictions. A core objective of the contingency plans will be to ensure that schools and other education settings can reopen and operate in a safe manner that is consistent with public health advice.

‘The issues are also being considered by the Primary Education Forum which includes all stakeholders in the sector and it will also be addressed by the Advisory Group which involves representatives of stakeholders from the postprimary sector.’

A senior source said there is a perception among some sections of Government that ‘the unions are calling the shots’.

‘The teachers’ unions have undue influence at the department, I mean in other countries the schools are opening up,’ they said. ‘In some they

never closed.’ However, the unions stressed to the MoS that they are following public health advice.

‘The position of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland is that the health and safety of students, teachers and the wider community should be the primary factor in terms of any decision taken on a return to school, and this is a position shared by the Department of Education and

Skills,’ said a TUI spokesman.

‘This involves first and foremost complying with guidance provided by the public health authorities.

‘It has been and remains the ambition of the TUI and the other partners in the education sector to have a safe return to school as soon as possible. The hope is that this can be achieved in September.’

The Association of Secondary

Teachers Ireland says it has not been involved in any talks on returning second level students.

But a spokeswoman said: ‘The ASTI believes face-to-face teacherlearner interaction is an essential element of a quality education experience for children and young people. Members are wholly committed to supporting their students to the best of their ability, as is evidenced by the enormous efforts of teachers in recent weeks.

‘When it was first announced that Leaving Cert written exams would be held in late July/ August, secondlevel teachers undertook to return to schools in July to support these students. Last week the Minister for Education and Skills stated that “compelling evidence” means that the July/August exams must be further postponed, and that a Calculated Grades for Leaving Cert 2020 process will be implemented.

‘Notwithstanding key concerns raised by the ASTI which are the subject of ongoing discussions, the ASTI has advised its members to engage with this process. It is expected that training for teachers will be rolled out shortly.’