Teacher unions will raise concerns at the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response today about how social distancing will be implemented in schools when they reopen.
It follows the publication yesterday of interim public health guidance to govern the reopening of schools in late August and September.
The guidance recommends one-metre physical distancing between second level students in the classroom.
A report published last month found that not all year groups would be able to attend school at the same time under such a scenario.
The Health Policy Surveillance Centre (HPSC) advice also recommend a one-metre physical distancing between primary school pupils in class.
However, it states that this is “not a prerequisite” for younger pupils. It also qualifies that this should only be “whenever possible” when older children are organised into small groups together in the class.
In his opening statement to the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee, General Secretary of the Teachers Union of Ireland John MacGabhann will say clear direction about social distancing is needed.
He will tell politicians that the architecture of schools is based on congregating students but that the current crisis demands that we avoid this.
Mr MacGabhann will say that second level schools and Youthreach centres were not built to accommodate the demands of a pandemic.
The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland will tell the committee that it would be concerned if a differentiated approach to physical distancing is introduced for schools in the autumn.
ASTI General Secretary Kieran Christie will say there cannot be rules on physical distancing that apply outside a school that do not apply inside a school.
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation General Secretary John Boyle will tell politicians that the opening of schools will be an enormous “logistical challenge”.
Mr Boyle will say the issue of large classroom sizes will impact on social distancing requirements and he will call on the Government to address the issue.
No strict requirement for primary school pupils to distanceLatest coronavirus stories
The HPSC guidance says a balance is needed between “a practical and sensible level of caution” and the need to provide a supportive environment for pupils.
It says the approach of schools should be two pronged, with everything possible done to avoid introduction of Covid-19 into a school in the first place, as well as other measures directed towards reducing the likelihood of spread.
As well as a detailed outlining of hygiene and cleaning measures, the guidance requires staff to confirm upon arrival at school every day that they do not have symptoms.
It says schools should have the right to decline entry to pupils if a child displays symptoms such as a fever.
While they state that staff should maintain a minimum physical distance of one metre and where possible two metres from pupils it acknowledges that this might not always be possible.
It advises that classes should be kept apart as much as possible, with staggered break and lunch times, and possibly staggered arrival and departure times as well.
At second level the HPSC advice states that students should remain in the same classroom as much as possible, with teachers moving between classes.
The INTO General Secretary will tell the Covid-19 committee that Ireland has the largest class sizes in the Eurozone, which he describes as a “national embarrassment”.
Mr Boyle will say that primary schools in Ireland have more than 30 pupils, compared to other European countries which have an average of 20.
The previous government had said that it was working towards a “full” reopening of schools in the autumn, with all students in attendance at the same time.
The note struck by new Minister for Education Norma Foley has been somewhat less positive.
Commenting on the public health guidance, Ms Foley said she wanted schools to reopen “as fully as possible”.
Additional reporting Aisling Kenny
More Stories
A teenager from Co Offaly has been “inundated” with orders for his handmade reindeer decorations after his mother put up a post in a popular Facebook group.
Run Windows apps such as Microsoft Office in Linux (Ubuntu) and GNOME as if they were a part of the native OS, including Nautilus integration. – Fmstrat/winapps
With Australia’s relationship with China at a very dangerous stage, the timing of what is expected to be a ‘more nuanced’ approach from a Biden administration could not be more welcome.