Kathleen Funchion
Question:546. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to conduct research to ascertain the impact school closures have had on children and their families. [14846/20]
View answerTuesday, 14 July 2020
Questions (546)
Written answers
Since schools closed in March 2020, a number of pieces of research on the experience of distance learning in schools have been carried out involving the Department’s Inspectorate, the National Parents’ Councils, school management and principals’ organisations and research bodies such as the Economic Social and Research Institute (ESRI), Maynooth University and Trinity College Dublin. This research has included surveys of school principals and parents as well as engagement with students. The research indicates that the experience of distance learning varied widely for students and was strongly dependent on factors such as access to devices and adequate broadband coverage. Students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds and students with special educational needs appear to have been most affected by the shift to distance learning. This replicates the experience in other countries worldwide where the closure of schools due to Covid-19 has greatly interrupted students’ learning in general and particularly that of the most vulnerable students. A detailed analysis of the national and international research that has been published and other available data is underway within my Department and will inform guidance from the Department on the full re-opening of schools.
The key focus now is getting all schools to re-open from the beginning of September and to help students settle back into school and make progress in their learning with as much ease as possible. I am conscious of the need to avoid placing any additional burden on schools at this time, including additional work or disruption to learning that could arise from conducting further research surveys or testing in schools.
I am conscious, of course, of the need to monitor the successes that are achieved and challenges that will arise as schools resume working, so that policy, guidance and practical supports are adjusted as necessary. Circulars have issued to schools in late June, detailing how my Department's Inspectorate will be engaging with schools once they re-open: inspectors will be focussed on providing advisory and support sessions or visits for schools to assist in the resumption of schooling, and information arising from these engagements will be systematically analysed to provide feedback to my Department. This information and analyses will inform the provision of any further guidance and supports.