31st December 2020
INTO Northern Secretary, Gerry Murphy has today written to the First and Deputy First Minister to call again for clarity from the Education Minister and a re-consideration of the Minister’s proposal to begin online learning for some post-primary pupils beginning on January 25th.
INTO Letter to OFMDFM: 31 December 2020 (pdf)
Mr Murphy said:
“Schools do not exist in a parallel universe, they are firmly located in the same universe that is currently besieged by a pandemic that is out of control. Minister Weir needs to recognise this and act appropriately to protect not only the pupils in our schools but the teaching and non-teaching staff. The position he outlined in his statement to the Assembly last week was not sufficient to do that, then, and now it is even more redundant. INTO is now demanding that online learning be introduced from day one of the 2nd term in the interests of school communities and society generally. We urge him to act while time remains.”