Secondary school teachers are calling for a review of the advice on face coverings before schools reopen at the end of the month.
The Government’s current plan for reopening notes that face masks are not suitable for primary level students and should be optional in second level.
General Secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland, Kieran Christie says there should be a review of that advice.
“Our position is very simple,” he said. “We would be guided by the medical advice that is available.
“Schools are being reopened in a few weeks and of course we welcome that but they need to be reopened in a sustainable manner.”
“As you know, since June a lot has happened,” he said. “Phase Four of the reopening of the country was due to take place on July 20th. It won’t have happened even by the time the schools open.
“Secondly, and this is the most important one, there have been significant changes in the whole area of mask-wearing. You will recall in the months of May and early June, even the HSE was very reluctant to introduce masks.
“Public policy has changed dramatically. They are coming in compulsorily next week in shops and recently they became compulsory on buses so we have asked the minister to go and ask the medical professionals to review the matter before the reopening of schools so the matter is cleared up once and for all.”
He said he wrote to the Education Minister requesting the review last week and is currently waiting on a response.
