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.
Post-primary transfer included in NI education review
By Robbie Meredith
Published
image captionThe independent review was promised as part of the New Decade New Approach deal
How children transfer from primary to post-primary schools is to be part of a review of Northern Ireland s education system.
The review will also consider what a single education system would involve.
The executive has now agreed the terms of reference for the review, which will be carried out by a five-person panel.
However, the panel is yet to be appointed and the review is not expected to begin until May 2021.
The NDNA deal said the way education is run in Northern Ireland - with a range of sectors and school types - was not sustainable and promised a fundamental review as a basis for change.
Northern Ireland schools: Education Minister Peter Weir accused of not doing enough to reassure parents and teachers schools are safe
NASUWT has also called on Peter Weir to close schools on Thursday
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Peter Weir has been accused of not doing enough to reassure teachers and parents schools are safe amid calls for early Christmas holidays.
The Education Minister has faced repeated calls to end classroom teaching this Thursday, December 17.
Northern Ireland schools urge Education Minister Peter Weir to close schools early for Christmas
West Belfast Area Learning Community (ALC) outlined their plea in a letter
Education Minister Peter Weir (Image: Liam McBurney/PA Wire)
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More than 50 schools in Belfast have written to the Education Minister asking him to rethink his stance on early Christmas closures.