Classroom masks compulsory under new Covid-19 guidance

Education Minister, Michelle McIlveen, has today published revised Covid-19 guidance setting out how schools and educational settings should plan ahead for the new academic year.

The new guidance allows schools a degree of flexibility to set safety precautions they feel are appropriate to their particular circumstances, but face coverings still have to be worn by all post-primary students, including in the classroom.

The Education Minister has said, “Today’s revised guidance builds on the important experiences gained by our school leaders and staff throughout the pandemic and will help schools plan ahead confidently for the new school year.

“It allows schools leaders to determine their own individual circumstances when deciding what measures are needed to ensure that children and young people can access education in a safe environment.”

The NI Executive ratified a range of relaxations on the 12 August, some of which had an impact on the delivery of education and more widely on children and young people.

Educational settings are no longer required to operate a system of formal protective bubbles. However, schools will still be asked to ensure pupils remain in consistent groups, where possible.

“Schools should continue to put measures in place to minimise transmission of the virus.” said Minister McIlveen.

The Minister continued: “Face coverings should continue to be worn inside all school buildings by post-primary pupils including in classrooms from the start of the new term. The Executive agreed that this would be subject to review on 8 October.

“In regard to self-isolation and testing for staff and pupils identified as a close contact, guidance is being prepared by the Public Health Agency ahead of the return to school in line with current guidance for close contacts on the nidirect website.”

Further detailed guidance on the self-isolation requirements for close contacts of a positive case is available on the nidirect website.

The Minister concluded: “I am confident that the Department’s revised guidance provides school leaders with the flexibility to allow all our children and young people to access all aspects of their education in the new year within an environment that continues to mitigate the risks of virus transmission.

“I wish to thank school leaders and staff for their continued support and wish all pupils, teachers and staff a safe return to all our educational settings.”