The Government has performed a U-turn on its plan for Leaving Cert students to attend school for three days each week.
Final year students will now engage in remote learning for five days a week until the end of January, it is understood.
The plan would have seen up to 80,000 students return to classrooms from Monday. It was announced on Wednesday as part of Ireland’s new lockdown measures to combat Covid-19, but was scrapped only a day later.
Plans to reopen special education schools, which were due to reopen on Monday, have also been cancelled.
In a statement on Thursday night, Minister for Education Norma Foley said: “It is with regret that I announce that, despite the confirmation by Public Health that schools remain safe, that children in special schools and special classes and Leaving Certificate students will not be extended in-person learning.
“My Department has engaged with the unions and public health officials with a view to maintaining on site learning for this vulnerable group of students.
“It remains my strong belief that this period of time is crucial for the mental wellbeing of all children with special needs.
“I also felt it was the right thing to extend in-class teaching to our Leaving Certificate students who are approaching a crucial time in their exam year.
“Unfortunately I am left with no alternative but to pause the limited reopening on Monday to allow further engagement with all education stakeholders.”
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- ‘Firm objective’ to hold Leaving Cert exams (RTE)
- Major Junior and Leaving Cert update as teachers’ union warns mocks could be delayed ahead of schools decision (Irish Mirror)
- Norma Foley casts doubt over Leaving Cert unless students return to school (Independent)
- Nphet did not recommend schools to close, Education Minister says (Breakingnews.ie)
- Back-up Leaving Cert plan to cover possible Covid incidences (Independent)
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