AQW 9580/17-22

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 03/11/2020
Answered On Date: 05/11/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education what specific advice his Department has sought and received from the Public Health Agency and the Health and Safety Executive regarding post-primary test day arrangements for the upcoming Post-Primary Transfer Consortium.

Answer:

The conduct of the tests, including any specific health and safety arrangements in relation to the tests, are the responsibility of the test providers and host schools rather than my Department.

I do however consider the health and safety of pupils taking the tests to be of paramount importance and I have written to both test providers asking to be kept informed of all of the appropriate safety measures being put in place to reduce the risk of COVID 19 in line with guidance from my Department and the wider medical and public health requirements. I have also highlighted the importance of providing timely and clear guidance to parents and children in advance of the tests.