Doubt cast on schools reopening after angry backlash from teachers
:: Blow to thousands of families as union cites safety concerns
GOVERNMENT plans to reopen schools for pupils with special needs are in chaos amidst a backlash from teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs).
In a serious setback, the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) last night called for Thursday’s reopening to be reconsidered. Now it will be a race against the clock to overcome what the INTO has described as “grave safety concerns”.
The union’s Central Executive Committee said teachers’ concerns had not been adequately addressed by a public health webinar and by the Government.
The INTO’s statement will be a devastating blow to families of thousands of children with special needs, who have suffered most by being out of school during the pandemic.
A statement said: “Teachers are understandably and justifiably anxious about their own safety and that of their pupils whilst community infection levels remain very high.
“The public health webinar, organised by the Department of Education, following an INTO call for up-to-date information, failed to allay teachers’ fears.”
If the partial reopening is abandoned, it will be the second time in a fortnight that Education Minister Norma Foley has been forced into a retreat on this issue.
Last night, Ms Foley and Junior Minister for Special Education Josepha Madigan said they would continue to engage with stakeholders to bring a phased return to in-school learning for children with additional needs.
GOVERNMENT plans to reopen schools for pupils with special needs on Thursday are in chaos amidst a backlash from teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs).
In a serious setback, the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) last night called for the move to be reconsidered. Now it will be a race against the clock to overcome what the INTO has described as “grave safety concerns”.
The INTO’s statement will be a devastating blow to families of thousands of children with special needs, who have suffered most by being out of school during the pandemic.
But an emergency meeting of the union’s executive committee said their concerns had not been adequately addressed by a special public health webinar yesterday or by the Government.
The INTO executive meets again today to assess the situation, as will the leadership of the Fórsa union, which represents 12,000 SNAs and which is also seeking more assurances on health and safety measures.
The INTO said it would “continue to engage with the Department of Education and public health authorities in an effort to work towards a safe, phased reopening”. However, up-to-date, reliable information and supports are essential if this effort is to succeed.
If the partial reopening is abandoned, it will be the second time in a fortnight that Education Minister Norma Foley has been forced into retreat on this issue.
After a false start the previous week, talks with the unions got under way and, last Thursday, Ms Foley and Junior Minister for Special Education Josepha Madigan announced a “shared ambition” for a staggered reopening, starting with phased return of pupils with special needs from Thursday. Detailed arrangements were sent to schools on Friday, following agreement with the unions, but it later emerged that there were issues to be resolved.
A webinar yesterday was aimed at reassuring special education teachers and SNAs that it was safe for them to return to schools, but it met much hostile reaction.
Around 16,000 participants logged on for the hour-long session presented by Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn, HSE Assistant National Director Dr Kevin Kelleher and public health consultant Dr Abigail Collins.
But their efforts to allay fears were greeted with comments such as “waste of time”, “insult to all”, “patronising” and “old data”, the latter referring to the use of Covid figures from schools last term.
INTO General Secretary John Boyle said the webinar did not address teachers’ concerns. He laid the blame for the current debacle at the feet of the Government. “The failure of Minister Foley and Minister Madigan to engage in proper consultation in the last two weeks has been very damaging and it has hampered the planning for the safe reopening of schools,” he said.
Last night, Education Minister Norma Foley and Junior Minister for Special Education Josepha Madigan said they would continue to engage with stakeholders in order to bring a phased return to in-school learning for children with additional educational needs.
A spokesperson for Ms Foley said there had been “almost daily communication at either ministerial or official level with the primary stakeholders with the shared aim of finding a pathway to return to school for children with educational needs”.
She said: “We will continue with this engagement to find a shared solution that is in the best interest of children with additional educational needs and their families.
“What is key is that the needs of the most vulnerable children in our education system remain our priority.”
Ms Madigan said the priority was to support vulnerable students at this time, such as those with special educational needs and their families.