💾 Archived View for gem.amigausers.ie › news_ie › Belfast1638621254.gmi captured on 2021-12-04 at 18:04:22. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Northern Ireland schools experiencing thousands of positive Covid cases

04 Dec

More than 1,200 school staff and over 11,500 pupils have tested positive for Covid in the last month, official figures show.

And the Public Health Agency’s weekly bulletin statistics have been seized on teachers’ union the NASUWT who says that a ‘keep open schools at all costs’ approach is “not acceptable both in relation to the spread of Covid and the contractual rights of teachers”.

The weekly epidemiological bulletin states that in the 28 days, up to ‘Epidemiological Week 47’, or November 28 there were 11,575 pupils with Covid and 1,250 teachers.

The high number of cases in schools tallies with the Department of Health’s daily Covid dashboard figures which show an age breakdown of positive tests. By far the highest rate of positives is among the 10-14 age group at 1,672 per 100,000 with females and 1,653 with males. The next highest rate is among the 5-9 age group at just over 1,200 positives per 100,000.

Reacting to the figures, NASUWT National Official for Northern Ireland Justin McCamphill said the case numbers are adding pressure in schools with spiralling staff absences. The union has previously called for a ‘circuit-breaker’ in the run up to Christmas holidays. On Friday, the Department of Education insisted there “are no current plans to shut schools early”.

Mr McCamphill said: “The spread of Covid19 is out of control in Northern Ireland schools. At least 1,250 school staff have caught Covid in the past four weeks as have at 11,575 pupils. The figures published by PHA do not include nursery schools but principals are reporting to us that many teachers and support staff in that sector have also contracted Covid.

“The NASUWT are now receiving daily reports of classes and year groups being sent home simply because there are not enough teachers available.

“The NASUWT are aware that that our members want to keep schools open, but they also want to keep them open safely, therefore all mitigating measures must remain on the table. A ‘keep open schools at all costs’ approach is not acceptable both in relation to the spread of Covid and the contractual rights of teachers. When teachers are pressured to work beyond their contracts their mental and physical health suffers. This will only lead to increased absence.

“Increasing the supply of substitute teachers is challenging but the focus of the Executive must be on reducing the spread of Covid in schools not simply placing more teachers in harms way.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said there “are no current plans to shut schools early”.

They added: “This was confirmed by the Executive yesterday(Thursday). Any decision to close schools would be taken by the Executive and be based on medical and scientific advice.

“We all know that the best place for children in terms of mental health, wellbeing and education is in school. We recognise that some schools are currently experiencing pressures with staffing availability and in some cases, have asked some pupils to learn remotely for a short period.

“We understand these challenges and that it is appropriate for those schools, as a last resort, to move some pupils to periods of remote learning for as short a period as possible. The Department and employing authorities will continue to support schools and alleviate these pressures wherever possible.

“We would ask parents and pupils to be understanding of the pressures that schools are currently under and the efforts that school leaders and staff are making to minimise any disruption to pupils’ education.

“Departmental guidance requires schools to continue to implement a range of mitigations to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission including: the use face coverings, regular LFD testing for all staff and post-primary pupils, use of consistent pupil groups where possible and maximising ventilation. The vaccination programme is now available to all staff and pupils aged 12 and over.”