Government scraps special schools reopening after unions reject plans for return

The Government has abandoned plans to partially reopen special schools for children with additional needs on Thursday.

Education Minister Norma Foley was left with no choice but to "regrettably pause" the reopening of special schools after both major trade unions rejected the Government's plan.

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation and Fórsa said the Government had failed to reassure school staff that it was safe for schools to open limited services to students with special education needs (SEN).

The unions urged the Government to postpone the resumption of school-based SEN services until further discussions can achieve improved safety measures including Covid testing, leading to the resumption of all school services.

A source has confirmed to the Mirror that the Minister will issue a statement shortly announcing plans to reopen schools have on Thursday have been paused.

Children in school (stock) (Christian Kane/Focus Images)

Earlier tonight, the unions – which represent tens of thousands of worried teachers and SNAs around the country – urged the Government to postpone the return of schools until further discussions could take place around a safe return to schools.

INTO general secretary John Boyle said many school staff were "totally unconvinced" by the Government's messaging on the issue this week.

"We are calling on the Government to avoid a confrontational approach that forces a reopening on tens of thousands of fearful staff who want to follow public health advice," he said.

"Instead, they should continue to work with us to ensure that schools are safe for students and staff."

And Forsa's head of education, Andy Pike, added: "“The Government hasn’t won the support of special education stakeholders. I’m sure this was not the intention, but we are in a desperately sad situation where rushed efforts to prematurely reopen schools have pitched the special needs community against itself.

"SNAs themselves are disability advocates. They know that SEN students need support, not least because so many enter the profession because they themselves have a child or family member with special needs."