Teacher union criticises response to weather

WITH THE vast majority of schools closed yesterday, the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation has strongly criticised the Government’s “inept response to the problems caused by severe weather conditions”. Yesterday was due to be the first day back for schools since the Christmas break but more than 80 per cent of primary schools were closed. At second level, more than 70 per cent of schools closed.

Most schools have decided to close until Monday, although a sizeable minority are shut until further notice – as the forecast indicates no thaw for at least a week.

Last night Sheila Nunan, incoming general secretary of the INTO, said Government failure made the widespread closure of schools inevitable.

“Roads were left untreated which left school transport unable to function in many parts of the country. And pavements outside schools were left in a lethal condition making it unsafe for schools to open.”

She said the cold spell exposed shortcomings in the Government’s laissez-faire attitude to schools. “Why is it that parents have to rely on national and local media outlets for information on school openings?” she asked. She said collating this type of information should be the responsibility of the Department of Education.

On Tuesday, the department said it was for individual boards of management to decide whether local weather and road conditions warranted the closure of a school. Schools are empowered to make such decisions locally without notifying the department in advance, it said. But the department issued no overall directive to schools, nor did it post information on its website about school closures.

The controversy will raise further questions about its management of schools.

The INTO said this week’s events underlined the weakness of the department’s “let it be’’ approach to schools. It said there was a strong case for regional education authorities to provide advice and guidance to schools.

The flow of information to parents, pupils and school staff about school openings appears to have been erratic yesterday. While some schools used text-alert services or posted updated information on their website, other schools – especially at second level – gave no information. In a minority of cases, some parents and teachers did not know whether their school was open until 9am.

School managers are bracing themselves for widespread disruption and a further round of school closures next week.

Ferdia Kelly, who represents the majority of second-level school managers, stressed principals were very reluctant to close schools but health and safety considerations often left them with no alternative. Mr Kelly, general secretary of the Joint Managerial Body, has advised school principals and chairpersons of school boards of management to monitor conditions on a daily basis to ensure the safety of the school community.