How will schools be able to go back in September?

I want school back as much as the next person. However if come September the advice for other sectors is still to social distance, still to have max people in a certain space then how can we expect teachers (or any sector for that matter) to work differently?
There needs to be a safe standard across the board.

jrosen wrote: »

I want school back as much as the next person. However if come September the advice for other sectors is still to social distance, still to have max people in a certain space then how can we expect teachers (or any sector for that matter) to work differently?
There needs to be a safe standard across the board.

I suppose the same way as we expect it of, for example, the Gardaí. They have to do what they have to do in many different types of crisis situations without always being able to keep social distancing rules etc.

In the department's own words for those who are genuinely interested

The following are the key activities that are now underway to implement the optimum model for reopening schools:

1. Overall objective - to open schools in accordance with the normal start of the new school year to the fullest extent while minimising the risks from a public health perspective. Arrangements will allow for new routines to be established and bedded in within schools.



2. Public health guidance – Detailed engagement is underway in relation to development of public health guidance for school settings. This will be provided in time to facilitate operation of summer programmes and to enable detailed planning and preparatory work for the re-opening of schools. The public health guidance will be kept under on-going review and refinement if necessary in advance of the re-opening of schools at the end of August.



3. Guidance and templates - to enable schools comply with the requirements of the national Return to Work Safely Protocol are being developed centrally in consultation with education partners. These guidance documents and templates will be published later in June and July. Draft guidance and templates will be available in time for use by schools planning to operate summer programmes.



4. Awareness raising and training – Guidance and on-line training modules, webinars etc. will be developed centrally and available for use by schools, parents and students.



5. Enhanced cleaning regime – Additional resources will be provided to schools to enable enhanced cleaning regimes to be put in place for operation of schools.



6. Good hand hygiene – The existing handwashing facilities in some schools are not designed for the enhanced level of handwashing envisaged necessary in Covid-19 environment without significantly impacting on educational class time. A drawdown framework will be established by the Department to enable schools purchase hand-sanitisers for use in the school and classroom. The procurement process for this framework is commencing immediately and it will also deal with any other potential PPE requirements. It is not envisaged that significant PPE will be required in school settings. Details on the additional funding for schools will be provided in due course.



7. Mental health and Wellbeing – There will be a strong focus on supporting mental health and wellbeing of students and staff during the initial phase of re-opening schools. Central guidance will be provided.



8. Teaching and learning and curriculum -The Department is working with the NCCA, the Inspectorate and other experts as appropriate to tailor teaching and learning appropriately to the needs of students as they reengage with school.



9. Blended learning/alternative provision - Notwithstanding our overall objective, planning for a blended learning approach (on-line/in school) will be a feature of the approach to planning to reopen schools as there may be circumstances where schools will have to have the necessary agility to respond quickly to changed circumstances at local, regional or national level. Planning is underway with the NCCA, the Inspectorate and other experts as appropriate on how best to manage and operate blended learning model.



10. Consultation and Communication – The Department will continue to engage closely with education partners and other key stakeholders on the development of guidance and supports for the re-opening of schools. A dedicated webpage will be provided to enable the sharing of information and updates in an open and transparent manner.

If some teachers in the older category over 50s if they don't want to go back should be offered early retirement or younger with underlying health conditions can stay off for time being when September comes. As probably never be a vaccine and we will have to live with this disease. Most every jobs will be back to work. If schools don't re open come September lot of workers won't be able to return. I think most teachers do want to return to work but will more then likely be with the virus still at play and could be the case that some of the kids when they are teachers in 20 years time will be off sick with Corona virus. This will be something that probably will be around for ever and and might never be a cure/vaccine. Just something we will have to get on with and sadly live with. If people go on well kids spreading I may get it well without a vaccine/cure in a year's time 2021 will they be like well can't open the schools Corona virus still at play?

daheff wrote: »

Teachers & TUI seem to making every excuse not to go back to work. If they were on the 350 Covid payments they might be more interested in going back to work.

Please find a quote from any teacher who says they don't want to go back to work provided they are subject to the same protocols as the rest of the workforce.

daheff wrote: »

Teachers & TUI seem to making every excuse not to go back to work. If they were on the 350 Covid payments they might be more interested in going back to work.

This is a wind up. I'm praying we are back fully in September.

JRant wrote: »

I don't believe for one second anyone is going to be put at risk by opening the schools in September. Anyone that wants to wear a mask should. The department need to provide all schools with hand santizing stations for each classroom and additional funding for more frequent cleaning.

Any immunocompromised students or teachers are in the exact same position as they were before COVID. Anyone in that position will need to maintain whatever precautions they were adhering to before this.

One thing is certain, part-time education will lead to partly educated children.

Actually they are not. They are in a worse position. Illnesses such as asthma, ulercerative colitis, Lupus, Psorasis, Crohns to mention a few, were managable prior to Covid19, but depending on the drugs that the person with those illnesses are on, they are now immunocompromised and in a difficut position.

Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: »

Gardai, nurses, doctors, surgeons, hairdressers, barbers, paramedics, physiotherapists, beauticians, creche workers, people who use public transport, restaurant staff, dentists, healthcare workers, prison officers, firefighters, hospital staff, opticians, some construction roles, flight attendants, driving instructors, childminders.

Just off the top of my head there's a lot of people that won't be adhering to strict social distancing, I'm sure there's many more.

Schools will certainly not be the only exception, but they will have the benefit of being the last to return to business as usual.

MOst of those are adhering to social distancing or having to implement the use of PPE.

jimmytwotimes 2013 wrote: »

If schools are the only workplace in Ireland not to observe social distancing then they'd have reason to strike.

Doctors, nurses, guards, fire fighters, air hostesses - hardly the only one?

Van.Bosch wrote: »

Doctors, nurses, guards, fire fighters, air hostesses - hardly the only one?

Doctors nurses guards if they choose and firefighters have been using PPE