PUPILS in the North of Ireland will not to return to school until Monday, March 9 at the earliest.
Education Minister Peter Weir made the recommendation in a paper to be discussed by the executive today, Thursday, January 28
It may also be the case that only some year groups go back to school on March 8, if a return then is possible.
Mr Weir is understood to have made the recommendation “reluctantly” due to the ongoing public health situation.
However, the proposal has still to be agreed by the executive when it meets.
If the new school arrangements are approved, they are likely to be reviewed by the Executive on Thursday, February 18 so that Mr Weir can give schools, pupils and parents at least two weeks’ notice before schools return.
Most children and young people have not been able to attend pre-school, primary and post-primary schools since December.
It was originally planned that pupils could return to pre-school, primary and nursery schools following the half-term break in mid-February.
That return is now set to be delayed until Monday 8 March at the earliest.
If it is not possible for all pupils to return on 8 March, priority will be given to pupils in exam years, BBC News NI understands.
That would include pupils taking GCSEs, AS and A-level and BTecs – but it is not clear if it would also include Primary Six pupils who may want to sit the transfer test in the autumn.
Special schools remain open to all pupils, but only vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers are able to attend mainstream nursery, primary and post-primary schools at present.
That means that about 9% of all pupils are in school, with the vast majority learning and being taught remotely.
That period of remote learning will be extended until at least Friday 5 March.
However, any decision on the return of pupils to class would be kept under review by the executive and would be dependent on the public health situation in late-February.
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