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P7 parents worried sick over post-primary transfer process
By Robbie Meredith
Published
image captionNew criteria for transfer to post primary schools will be published on Friday
Many parents of Primary 7 children are worried sick due to uncertainties about how they will transfer to post-primary schools.
That is according to the principal of a primary school in Lisburn.
A teaching union has also said that primary principals are at a loss over how to advise parents about the transfer process.
Transfer tests were cancelled for 2021 and most grammar schools have not yet said how they will select pupils.
All post-primary schools have to provide the Education Authority (EA) with admissions criteria by Friday, but it is still unclear whether some grammars will use academic criteria.
School reopening decision too little too late says teaching union
Teachers have welcomed the delay of face-to-face teaching but said the move should have been announced before Christmas
Education Minister Peter Weir during a visit to St Joseph s Primary School Carryduff, (Image: Liam McBurney/PA Wire)
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Teaching unions have called on Education Minister Peter Weir to make the move to remote learning immediately after he told the Assembly that it will operate from January 25.
Mr Weir announced yesterday that remote learning will only affect pupils in years 8 to 10 for at least two weeks.
Primary schools, special schools and pupils in years 11 to 14 will remain in school. All schools will open as planned when the new term begins in January for face-to-face learning.
Defending the decision to delay the introduction of remote learning, Mr Weir told BBC Radio Ulster s Evening Extra that he wants to avoid educational gaps and a seven-week isolation for pupils from January until the half-term break.
Anxiety is rising among Northern Ireland teachers who will return to class next term, a union has warned.
Ulster Teachers’ Union general secretary Jacquie White urged the Education Minister to reconsider allowing schools to reopen as planned in January.
Her comments come after Peter Weir confirmed on Friday that all schools and education settings would reopen in the first week of January.
Mr Weir said the decision was made “in the best interests of all pupils”.
“I am mindful of the impact the pandemic is having on our children and young people, particularly those who are vulnerable and from disadvantaged backgrounds,” he said.