SUBSTITUTE COVER IS KEY FOR TEACHERS

TEACHERS’ unions remain in talks with the Government about the reopening of schools. The talks are focusing on when and how pupils and teachers will return to classrooms after the summer break.

Officials and unions are hopeful formal guidelines will be agreed and published by the last week of July.

A key sticking point in the discussions has surrounded the availability and funding of substitute cover for teachers. It is anticipated the new public health guidelines to limit the spread of Covid-19 will enforce increased absenteeism among teachers as they will be unable to come in to work if they have any Covid-19 symptoms or signs of a light cold.

The Irish National

Teachers’ Organisation (INTO), representing primary school teachers, says it is clear more money will have to be allocated for substitute cover in the upcoming academic year.

“Teachers might often come in to the school if they were sniffling or had a light cold but the public health guidance now is that they shouldn’t come to school if they have any symptoms,” an INTO spokesman said.

“What would normally happen in a case where a substitute is not found, the class would be merged with other classes. That flies in the face of public health guidance in terms of maintaining the integrity of the classroom bubble.

“We are working with the department on that now and we believe they are working with the Department of Finance to get a package together that would allow for additional substitutes to be hired this year and be made available to schools to cover those inevitable absences.

“We need substitute cover from day one to make sure the health guidance is adhered to.

“The idea of having formalised supply panels of substitute cover is that you are limiting the amount of substitutes that come in to contact with the class, so rather than having a different sub every day you have the option for one person to cover a case where a teacher may have to self-isolate for 14 days.”

Secondary school teachers have also called for action to protect students and staff when classrooms reopen.

The ASTI wants physical changes to infrastructure to allow for social distancing and special attention being paid to protecting vulnerable members of the school community.