Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020
450. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding social distancing in secondary schools if they are to return in September 2020; the timeline for her Department to provide return to work and school protocols to students and teachers that will offer assurances with regards to their safety. [18219/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraYesterday, 27 July, my Department published the report to Government “Reopening Our Schools, The Roadmap for the Full Return to School”.
This Roadmap set outs how schools will fully reopen for all students from the end of August, and what the operation of our schools will look like and be sustainable in a COVID-19 context. It has been developed in line with public health advice issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), the Roadmap for Society and Business, and follows comprehensive and intensive engagement with education stakeholders including the school management bodies and staff representatives.
The roadmap sets out in detail how physical distancing can be applied in primary and post primary settings, using the principles outlined in the public health advice.
Given that each school setting is different in terms of (i) location; (ii) physical layout (iii) available space within the school; and (iv) student numbers; schools themselves are best placed to decide on the appropriate reconfigurations / operational changes necessary to maintain physical distancing.
At post primary level given that students are not assigned to one class teacher, the range of measures required to support physical distancing will encompass a number of measures. They will include
- Reconfiguring class spaces to maximise physical distancing;
- Utilising and reconfiguring all available space in the school in order to maximise physical distancing;
- Reviewing timetables;
- Reconfiguring classes;
- Consider use of live streaming within the school, if practical;
- Accessing available spaces within the local community.
In addition there is a link in the Roadmap to a variety of class layouts to support schools make the physical changes to classrooms necessary. The implementation of these measures will be supported by funding through the once off enhanced minor works grant and will be paid to all primary and post primary schools by mid-August.
