Schools need to ‘proceed slowly’ with extracurricular activities – INTO

General secretary of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO), John Boyle, said he was "absolutely thrilled" to observe the significant reduction in the rate of infection among schoolchildren.

"Nevertheless, we have had breakthrough cases among fully vaccinated teachers, particularly immunocompromised teachers," he told RTÉ Radio's Saturday with Katie Hannon.

Asked to put a figure on this breakthrough cohort, he cited a report on primary school infections which said that nine adults had tested positive for the virus in the last week. This is "nine more than I would like to see", he said, adding that some pregnant teachers have returned to the largest class sizes in Europe.

“It is a worrying situation, but it is looking good.”

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The Department of Education is now in talks about the return of extracurricular activities, but Mr Boyle said: “I think we need to take our time and maybe look at when the whole society opens up at the end of October, then we might look at some of those loosening in schools.”

Mr Boyle said he would love to see after-school activities return but, due to the recent relaxing of rules regarding close contact tracing, the sector needs to “proceed a little bit slowly”. He said the midterm break can serve as a “circuit break[er]”.

There are many parents who do not know the wider range of symptoms associated with the Delta variant.

“The Department of Education and Public Health have not managed to convince parents that if their child has the symptoms they should remain away from school. I think that that really jeopardises the safe opening of schools, and it is something that we really need to emphasise,” he added.