Teachers unions say it's essential individual schools are allowed to choose how they reopen based on their own particular circumstances.
It comes as a meeting of the TUI, ASTI and Education Minister Norma Foley is due to take place today.
Health and safety must be the priority for re-opening schools https://t.co/ptG4qAtrQw
— ASTI (@astiunion) January 3, 2022
Two Days To Go
With just two days to go until schools air due to reopen post Christmas teaching unions air calling for a different approach.
The ASTI only wants to see a delayed and staggered reopening due to concerns over staff shortages.
The union's president is Eamon Dennehy:
"Prioritising for one thing that would say the exam years and make sure that there's as little disruption to their education as possible."
While TUI General Secretary Michael Gillespie says each school needs to be able to make its own decisions around reopening:
"It's not one size fits all. We don't know how schools going to be affected on Thursday."
But Justice Minister Helen McEntee says government is determined to see schools reopen:
"Every single effort is is going to be made to make sure that the schools open on Thursday.
"That means working with the Union, it means ongoing engagement with public health."
The meeting between unions and the minister for education was due to get underway at three o'clock this afternoon
