The government is hoping to reach a deal on the running of this year’s Leaving Cert this afternoon.
Talks with unions have been continuing this morning ahead of a cabinet sub-committee meeting later.
Some of those issues related to whether oral and practicals will go ahead as part of a system that will include written exams and some element of predictive grades.
There are also questions as to whether the Junior Cert will proceed.
It comes as a number of Clare parents make fresh calls for clarity on the re-opening of schools.
While yesterday saw multiple media outlets report that plans were afoot for schools to re-open from March 1st, on a phased basis, that hasn’t been set in stone.
The date is yet to be agreed with teachers unions and other stakeholders, which has leading to growing frustration among some parents.
The Re-open Schools I.R.L. campaign has launched a petition, which has received over 6,000 signatures from parents, calling for clarity on the timeline for re-opening.
Group member, Ennis native Angie Gough says the prolonged closure is having a detrimental impact on kids in more ways than one.
A number of new measures are reportedly being introduced ahead of re-opening including that parents will be asked to sign a declaration form when sending their child to school to say they don’t believe the student has Covid-19.
Schools will also be advised to open windows during breaktimes, and have them partially open during school hours, while boilers will be set to a higher temperature to ensure students aren’t cold.
Cratloe mother of two, Trish Lehane is confident that it will be safe for children to return.
