The ASTI teaching union has directed its members not to comply with plans for Leaving Cert students to attend school for three days a week.
The union, which represents more than 17,500 teachers, said it was not consulted about the plan and had not received sufficient assurances that “schools are sufficiently safe” for students and teachers.
At an emergency meeting on Thursday, the ASTI standing committee decided to direct its members not to co-operate with the arrangements announced by the Minister for Education for in-school teaching.
Unfortunately, the assurances we sought have not been forthcoming.
ASTI President Ann Piggott
The union said it will engage in remote teaching and learning from Monday January 11.
Waterford, Ireland / WLR
Jan 7, 2021 8:49 AM
The harshest lockdown measures since last March were approved by the government on Wednesday, with significant restrictions likely to remain in place into this spring.
The new restrictions will see schools closed until February 1st.
However, plans to partially reopen schools for thousands of Leaving Cert students and special needs pupils were in doubt on Wednesday night due to growing opposition from teachers’ unions and principals’ representatives.
The groups are seeking urgent meetings with the Government over the public health basis for the decision, which they say risks jeopardising the safety of teachers and students.
Principals say schools will be kept open come hell or high water after the Christmas break, despite concerns about the spread of Covid-19 infections and an expected increase in case numbers over the festive period.
A rise in Covid-19 cases has led some parents to consider removing their children from classrooms ahead of schools breaking up, so they can restrict their movements before meeting elderly loved ones on Christmas Day.
Such precautionary measures are not considered absences that can be counted as being a direct result of the impact of Covid-19 , and would have to be reported to Tusla by schools under the Education (Welfare) Act if a student misses 20 days over the school year.
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President Higgins pays tribute to heroic teachers and school communities
SNAs, school leaders, ancillary staff, school transport workers, student leaders, secretaries, and custodial workers are all to be commended for their contributions in helping keep Irish schools open and safe
As part of the event, Teachers, SNAs, school leaders, ancillary staff, school transport workers, student leaders, secretaries, and custodial workers will all to be commended for their contributions in helping keep Irish schools open and safe. President Michael D Higgins will be among those paying tribute. File Picture: Maxwells
Fri, 11 Dec, 2020 - 09:11
Steven Heaney
President Micheal D Higgins has paid tribute to heroic teachers and other school staff as part of Go Raibh Maith Agaibh day (GRMA) today.