School is ‘best and healthiest place’ for children, says Education Minister

By Rebecca Black, PA

School is the “best and healthiest” place for children, the Stormont Education Minister has said.

Peter Weir made the comment ahead of a meeting of the Executive where the planned reopening of schools on Monday is expected to be discussed.

Schools in Northern Ireland closed on October 19 for an extended half-term break.

The move came as a number of restrictions, including the closing of the hospitality industry and close contact services, were announced for a four-week period in a bid to halt a surge of coronavirus cases.

The aim is to reduce the reproductive number (R number) of the virus from 1.5 to under 1.

I honestly believe the best, and safest, place for all our children at the moment is at school. I have made this very clear recently. The benefits, in terms of their mental health, social development & education, are very significant. pic.twitter.com/KqD6o0P8uj

— Peter Weir (@LordWeirDUP) October 29, 2020

Half of Northern Ireland’s 1,000 schools have had at least one Covid-19 case in a pupil or member of staff since reopening, according to Public Health Agency (PHA) figures.

Schools were closed from March in an effort to stem the spread of the virus and reopened on August 24.

Mr Weir has previously voiced his preference for schools to reopen on November 2 as planned.

First Minister Arlene Foster has also indicated that was her preference.

First Minister, Arlene Foster

Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said last week that the Executive is determined to reopen schools, but warned there are “big stress points on our schools”.

As ministers prepared to meet on Thursday, Mr Weir tweeted: “I honestly believe the best, and safest, place for all our children at the moment is at school. I have made this very clear recently.

Peter Weir

“The benefits, in terms of their mental health, social development & education, are very significant.”