LISTEN: NI teachers fear 'catastrophic' COVID-19 surge

By Peter Moor.

Teaching unions say they fear a "catastrophic" surge in COVID-19 re-infections if schools re- open too soon.

In a letter to Education Minister Peter Weir the British and Irish Group of Teacher Unions calls for sufficient capacity to test, trace and isolate the infection as a prerequisite for school reopening.

The letter has been sent to Education ministers across the UK and Ireland.

Jacquie White of the Ulster Teacher's Union is one of the signatories to the letter which warns of the “very real risk of creating a spike in the transmission of the virus by a premature opening of schools”.

Jacquie White

The letter also calls for “significant operational changes [being] in place to ensure effective social distancing, strong hygiene routines linked to thorough cleansing practices, appropriate PPE [being] available where required, and ongoing risk assessments in place to monitor operations.”

Jacquie White

It also says "We recognise that children from poor and challenged backgrounds and vulnerable children will inevitably require significant additional support as we move slowly back to a more settled situation.

Michael Allen is headteacher at Lisneal College in Derry/Londonderry.

He has called for more clarity on the criteria that will be needed for schools to reopen.

Michael Allen

Mr Allen has said this will help schools plan for the future, in terms of when they may eventually reopen.