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Schools will reopen in Northern Ireland later for the first time since March.<\/p>\nSchools will reopen in Northern Ireland later for the first time since March.<\/p>\n
Teachers\u2019 unions said educators had not been given enough time to respond to rules issued earlier this month.<\/p>\n
Northern Ireland\u2019s chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride has insisted it is safe to return.<\/p>\n
Strict social distancing between children may be relaxed if there are hygiene measures in place.<\/p>\n
Face coverings are not mandatory for routine use by pupils, Stormont\u2019s Department of Education has said.<\/p>\n
Stormont\u2019s education minister Peter Weir said: \u201cSchools are not unsafe places for children and they are not unsafe places for teachers either.<\/p>\n
\u201cVery, very few, if any, children will come to harm as a result of attending school, but there is evidence of the long-term harm to children\u2019s education, life opportunities, mental health and well-being from not attending school.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is clear unequivocal evidence that children are less likely to catch Covid-19, where they do most of them will have mild to moderate symptoms and in most cases they will make a very full recovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a very, very low \u2013 indeed an incredibly low incidence \u2013 of serious disease within children and they are also less likely to transmit the virus.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schools closed in March to help contain the spread of coronavirus.<\/p>\n
Pupils in Primary 7, Year 12, Year 14 \u2013 whose preparation for exams was disrupted by the lockdown \u2013 and all vulnerable children are due to return to classes on August 24.<\/p>\n
All other pupils will begin the new school year on the week beginning August 31st after months of variable levels of home schooling.<\/p>\n
Official guidance recommends the formation of protective bubbles for primary school children and pupils in years 8-10 in post-primary schools.<\/p>\n
The department said interactions between different year groups of older pupils should be limited.<\/p>\n
Parents, pupils and their teachers face the added strain of uncertainty over the future, Mr Weir has acknowledged.<\/p>\n
A total of \u00a342 million (\u20ac46.5 million) has been spent on re-starting schools safely.<\/p>\n
A package of measures for the first term covers the cost of substitute teachers and other school expenditure, personal protective equipment, school well-being, transport and special educational needs.<\/p>\n
Mr Weir said: \u201cI fully recognize the stresses felt by teachers, parents and pupils due to the ongoing disruption and uncertainty regarding the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy key priority has always been to ensure all of our children and young people return to school on a full-time basis, as soon as it is safe to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n