AQW 8997/17-22


Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast


Tabled Date: 19/10/2020
Answered On Date: 23/10/2020
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Education what advice he has taken on extending the compulsory wearing of masks in schools to the classroom.


Answer:
Public Health advice states that Coronavirus (COVID-19) usually spreads by droplets from coughs, sneezes and speaking. These droplets can also be picked up from surfaces, if you touch a surface and then your face without washing your hands first. This is why social distancing, regular hand hygiene, and covering coughs and sneezes is important in controlling the spread of the virus.
The best available scientific evidence is that, when used correctly, wearing a face covering may reduce the spread of coronavirus droplets in certain circumstances, helping to protect others. Because face coverings are mainly intended to protect others, not the wearer, from coronavirus (COVID-19) they’re not a replacement for social distancing and regular hand washing.
The Department’s revised Coronavirus (COVID-19): Guidance for School and Educational Settings in Northern Ireland was published on 29 September 2020. It has been informed by advice provided by the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Advisor.
The guidance provides an overarching framework for how schools and education settings in Northern Ireland can operate in an ongoing COVID environment, with the aim of ensuring broad consistency and equity across local areas, but is sufficiently flexible to allow education settings and staff to adapt and adopt approaches that best suit their needs.
Within education settings it is mandatory for all pupils aged 13 and over to wear a face covering on public transport. It is also strongly recommended that all pupils, regardless of age, should wear a face covering on all buses, trains or taxis for the journey to school where it is appropriate for them to do so and they are able to handle them as directed.
Face coverings must be worn in staff rooms and during adult to adult meetings lasting more than 15 minutes and by adults visiting the school site.
Face coverings are strongly encouraged for activities that entail large numbers of staff or pupils within an enclosed space where social distancing is not possible.
It is recommended that pupils and teachers wear a face covering in corridors and other communal areas of post-primary schools.
Given the risk mitigations in place in schools to limit and contain the spread of COVID-19, face coverings are not generally recommended for routine use in schools. Staff and pupils may wish to use them during the routine school day and this is acceptable. Schools should also be aware that some persons (including children) are exempt from wearing face coverings.
It is not mandatory for pupils to wear face coverings in school and no child will be excluded from school for not wearing a mask. Some schools have taken the decision to make masks mandatory however that is an operational issue for the individual schools.
My Department will continue to be led by the public health advice, and any guidance will be reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure it remains in line with the wider health position.