Listen to Europe and let our children go back to school

AN ASSOCIATION for single-parent families has urged the Government to heed the advice of other countries and reopen schools before September.

Karen Kiernan, director of single parent’s association One Family, last night said the Government to act in the interests of children’s wellbeing.

‘Children depend on a learning environment, not just for social and wellbeing benefits but also for practical reasons like food and safety,’ she said.

‘Parents, especially lone mothers and fathers, are finding

‘It’s very hard for parents’

it incredibly difficult to get child-minding services during the day, which leaves many of them unable to work.

‘We were hoping some children could be brought back to school in May or June, which would give us a clearer idea of what measures would need to be put in place to ensure maximum safety.’

Ms Kiernan added that she believes the wellbeing of children is not being prioritised.

‘The National Public Health Emergency Team have acknowledged that it’s very hard for parents at the moment, but it seems as though children have been put way down on their list.

‘The Government have a window of opportunity to follow measures taken by other schools around Europe and find a way to implement them here,’ she said.

Education ministers in 22 European countries heard on Monday that the reopening of schools had not led to any ‘significant increase’ in infections.

Evidence from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Norway and France suggests little risk to pupils, teachers or families.

The revelation has piled pressure on teaching unions and the government to stop resisting plans to send children back to school before September.

Out of 22 European countries, 17 have allowed children to return to nursery and primary schools, and the final years of secondary level.

Outside the EU, children in Australia’s most populated state – New South Wales – will return to school full-time next week while teachers in South

Africa – the African nation worst hit by Covid-19 – are expected to return to work from May 25.

Tanya Ward, CEO of the Children’s Rights Alliance, told the Irish Daily Mail that there’s no reason why the Government can’t follow suit with the majority of EU member states.

‘I would like to see schools reopening earlier than September because six months is an incredibly long time to be off,’ she said.

“In Denmark they created ways to ensure that close contact is reduced to a minimum, such as having one-way systems through school halls, children sitting at two desks instead of one and having lessons outside. We can’t have a generation of children left behind.’

Denmark reopened primaries and nurseries a month ago and has seen infection rates continue to fall. Norway has taken similar action without a rise.

Around 1.4million French pupils went back to class last week and of around 40,000 schools and nurseries only 70 were closed again following virus cases.

Germany has reopened schools for older children and plans to allow younger year groups back later in the summer term.

However, teacher unions have urged the Government to be cautious about reopening schools.

Reacting yesterday, the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland said that caution must be exercised in managing the reopening of second-level schools.

‘The ASTI will be guided by the advice of NPHET on these matters at all times,’ a spokesman said.

John Boyle, General Secretary of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation yesterday told the Mail that any decision to reopen our schools must be led by public health advice and include engagement with the INTO and other stakeholders.

‘Opening before a robust plan is in place and risking a second wave of the virus is too high a price to pay,’ he said.

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland said: ‘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 yesterday, the World Health Organization’s special envoy for the UK backed calls to reopen schools there. Dr David Nabarro said it was a case of ‘balancing up the risks’, and that children should not be at home missing out on school for a long time.