Close contact rule change may ease pressure on schools, say principals

The Government’s decision to relax restrictions on close contacts of Covid-19 cases should ease some of the teacher supply pressure facing schools, say principals.

The Cabinet agreed on Wednesday that close contacts of confirmed cases no longer need to restrict their movements for five days once they have had a booster vaccine.

Thousands of teachers are estimated to be self-isolating on the basis that they are close contacts of confirmed cases.

The Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) said a recent survey indicates that teacher numbers are down by about 25 per cent across schools for Covid reasons.

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However, Pairic Clerkin, the IPPN’s chief executive, said the easing of close contact rules would mean fewer teachers would have to self-isolate.

“It will help, but schools are still facing significant challenges. We’re hearing of some classes being asked to say at home. The availability of student teachers is a significant help in some parts of the country, but others are under pressure,” he said

Mr Clerkin said the many schools were staying open at present by diverting learning support teachers into mainstream classes.

The Department of Education’s decision earlier this week to allow schools to “bank” these hours was a welcome development, he said, and meant children with additional needs would have access to vital support

Separately, the department has advised schools that they may use Covid-19 capitation funding to provide medical grade face masks for staff, if necessary.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan advised Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly earlier this week that all face coverings, including cloth face coverings, offer significant protection against Covid-19.

However, he further advised that anyone who wishes to wear a medical grade face mask or respirator mask instead of a cloth mask should do so.

The department said both types of medical grade face masks – disposable three-ply masks and respirator/FFP2 masks – are available through the procurement framework in place for schools.

Meanwhile, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland has instructed members not to teach in classrooms where minimum temperatures are not achievable.

Many teachers and pupils complained last week about “freezing” conditions of as low as 9 or 10 degrees in schools due to the need to ventilate classrooms by keeping windows open.

In an updated advice to members, the union says in the event that a minimum temperature of 17.2 degrees cannot be reached, it said principals should be informed.

“If the heating is not brought up to the standard, or reasonable attempts are not made to remedy any defects in the heating system, members are instructed not to work in rooms where the minimum temperature level is not achieved or achievable,” it states.

The union said that while public health advice sets out the importance of ventilation to mitigate against Covid-19 the union’s directive still stands.

“Clearly, in the current circumstances, schools may need some latitude while they are putting in place remedial measures. However, students and staff must not be put at risk both of contracting Covid-19 and another illness because of unacceptably low temperatures.”

It said some classrooms or paces may need to be deemed as “not fit for use” during particularly cold weather.

The union said these should be identified through a risk assessment process and alternative arrangements should be agreed in respect of classes affected.