Staff shortages have led to some teachers supervising classes of more than 80 pupils in the sports hall of a Co Fermanagh school.
With a number of staff self isolating due to Covid 19, some teachers at Erne Integrated College are having to take up to three classes at a time.
The school’s principal, Jimmy Jackson-Ware, has criticised the Department for Education over a "lack of leadership" as the impact of Covid 19 continues to disrupt schools.
The Northern Ireland Assembly was recalled on Monday in response to rising Covid cases in schools, while a number of schools have moved to implement remote learning.
“The big issue for us now is having big difficulty getting substitute cover for teachers,” Jimmy told MyFermanagh.
“Before Christmas because of staff shortages we had to combine classes, so we had to teach a whole year group in the hall.
“That’s three classes into one class, it’s not ideal as it’s often a non-specialist and you have three classes in one area. When that happens it can be as many as 80 children.
“That could well happen again in the coming weeks so staffing is the biggest issue for us.
“We cannot get a permanent member of staff as a technology and design teacher, it’s just impossible so we have to have a non-specialist in there and that is directly related to Covid and shortages of staff.”
With some schools opting for a partial return to remote learning, the Enniskillen college principal said that would only be considered as a last resort, and called on Education Minister Michele McIlveen to provide greater clarity to school leaders.
Jimmy said: “It’s a complete and utter lack of leadership from the Department of Education and Michelle McIlveen in particular.
“They need to come out with statements about what principals actually have to do in school and getting parents on board in understanding the challenges we’re facing.
“Remote learning would be a last resort for us, it has its limitations and has shown that ultimately it doesn’t work and it’s not as effective as face-to-face teaching.
“It would only be if we had no other choice that we would go to remote learning.
“That’s an example of the lack of leadership from the Department, they are leaving it up to principals to make those decisions when they should be coming out to say this is when this should happen.”
The Department of Education was contacted in relation to this story but at the time of publication had yet to provide a response.
