Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 March 2021
661. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current plans for third-level institutions for September 2021, for example, if online learning will continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12591/21]
View answer663. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to see third-level students return to campus when it is safe to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12609/21]
View answer664. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timeline for the return to campus for third-level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12610/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 661, 663 and 664 together.
Continuity for the most part of further and higher education and research has been maintained throughout the pandemic. In the early phase when on-site activities were suddenly suspended this was achieved through a rapid shift to emergency remote learning. Over time a blended model of learning has become the dominant mode with varying levels of onsite and online delivery aligned to public health advice and to the needs of different disciplines and different learner cohorts.
Level 5 measures designate higher and further education as essential insofar as onsite presence is required for education activities that cannot be held remotely. In January 2021, the sector rapidly adjusted again to the prevailing public health situation by moving the vast majority of their provision online.
COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 - The Path Ahead (published February 23) has not changed the status of Level 5 measures for adult and further and higher education. Using COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 - The Path Ahead and the Level 5 measures as a guide, higher and further Education should remain primarily online. Institutions and providers continue to carefully balance necessary onsite activities with prevailing public health advice, accepting that levels of time critical activity will fluctuate as the academic year and programmes progress.
It is important to provide, in so far as is feasible with an unpredictable public health situation, clear and hopeful messages to students and learners in relation to their expectations for the next academic year to inform their decision making. When the immediate challenges that the current restrictions are creating are mitigated there will be scope to begin planning for the new academic year and planning for a return to on-site learning. Careful consideration will be required to balance the benefits of providing clarity soon based on current assumptions versus maintaining flexibility to widen the scope for even greater levels of onsite provision, should the opportunity present itself in the autumn.
