Covid-19: Peter Weir to make assembly statement on school plans
Published
The education minister is to make a statement in the assembly chamber on Monday.
On Friday evening, Peter Weir announced his decision to reopen schools as normal in January.
The chair of Stormont s education committee called on Mr Weir to give an urgent statement on the school plans.
In a statement on Saturday, Chris Lyttle said the minister should tell MLAS the scientific and medical advice he has received relating to the safety of school restart, transfers tests and other examinations scheduled during the lockdown in January .
A statement to the assembly has been scheduled for Monday afternoon.
Education Minister Peter Weir s decision to insist that all Northern Ireland schools are to open again in the first week of January was slammed as a disaster waiting to happen .
The minister made the announcement in a statement issued at 8pm on Friday night - a timing which also came under fire from teaching unions NASUWT and INTO.
Minister Weir said his main priority was to protect children s education, mental health and wellbeing during the current pandemic. I am mindful of the impact the pandemic is having on our children and young people, particularly those who are vulnerable and from disadvantaged backgrounds, minister Weir said.
BBC News
Published
Northern Ireland s education minister has defended his decision to reopen schools in Janaury.
Teaching unions have criticised his plans which were set out on Friday.
Peter Weir says his decision was taken in line with public health advice and that the executive will keep it under review.
The chair of Stormont s education committee has submitted an assembly recall petition for Mr Weir to give an urgent statement on the school plans.
Thirty MLAs must sign Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle s petition in order to have the assembly recalled next week. The NI Assembly is currently in recess until 10 January.
Education Minister Peter Weir under fire for insisting that schools reopen in early January belfasttelegraph.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from belfasttelegraph.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
School principals have said they are tearing their hair out over Education Minister Peter Weir s confirmation that A-level students in Northern Ireland will take fewer exams next summer.
While insisting that exams will not be cancelled, Mr Weir told the Assembly recently that the number of A-level exam papers a pupil will have to take in each subject will be reduced.
The content of many GCSE courses, as well as the number of GCSE exams, has already been curtailed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
But Graham Gault principal of Maghaberry Primary and president of the local branch of the National Association of Head Teachers, said Mr Weir has left his members with more questions than answers.