Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 May 2020
155. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will commission a report on the short, medium and long-term impact of school closures on the educational development of young persons. [7232/20]
View answerA key priority for my Department is to minimise the impact of school closures on the educational development of young persons due to the Covid 19 crisis, and we are currently undertaking a number of actions to ensure this.
Guidance has already issued to schools to help ensure the continuity of teaching and learning, to support those with Special Educational Needs, those in areas of educational disadvantage, and to help support the wellbeing of all learners.
Guidance will issue shortly which will include information to support learners at each of the key stages of transition. The aim of the distant learning approaches set out in this guidance is to ensure that children stay connected with learning to facilitate progression to the next level of their education.
This guidance has been developed in consultation with all relevant stakeholders – including teachers, parents and learners. There is also ongoing consultation with the management bodies and unions from both sectors on all matters relating to Covid 19, which will continue for the foreseeable future.
School communities have been learning to adjust and adapt to the challenges they face at this time and have taken up the challenge of staying connected with their students for teaching, learning and maintaining the social connections and supports that are so important for young people’s wellbeing. The aim of distant learning approaches is to ensure that children stay connected with learning to facilitate progression to the next level of their education.
A group has also been established within my Department to look at the reopening of schools in the Autumn. This involves two strands:
- the logistics of reopening; health and safety; hygiene; social distancing, etc. and
- curriculum considerations, i.e. what needs to be put in place to support ongoing progression for learners and addressing any shortfall that may result from school closures.
My department will keep this situation under review and will continue to issue advice and guidance to schools as appropriate, in accordance with the advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team, in order to mitigate any impact on the educational development of young persons.
