AQW 17709/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 21/04/2021
Answered On Date: 26/04/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education when singing lessons not linked to public examinations will be able to begin in schools.

Answer:

Singing for those not sitting examinations is permitted, however, as stated in my letter of 1 April, this must be done in an outdoor setting. The Department’s guidance continues to be informed by advice from the Chief Medical Officer, the Assistant Chief Scientific Advisor and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) which is based on scientific and public health advice. Guidance will continue to be monitored and will be amended to reflect any updates to public health guidance and will be used to form any future decisions on policies for singing indoors in schools for those not sitting examinations.