John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

462. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to an apparent anomaly that appears to request those involved in the English language education in Ireland to return to live in-person lectures on 1 December 2020 which is not a level 3 rule (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41595/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As part of the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19, the Government has announced modified Level 3 requirements commencing on 1 December 2020.  These set out that Further, Higher and Adult education should remain primarily online.

In this context, a set of guiding principles has been agreed with the further and higher education sectors for implementing a phased and incremental increase in on-site learning as the country moves out of the Level 5 requirements. 

These principles also provide an appropriate basis and approach for the English Language Education (ELE) sector for moving out of Level 5 and ensuring the continuity and quality of English language education consistent with the Government’s Living with Covid-19 Plan.

The agreed principles acknowledge while it is inevitable that large-scale learning, like lectures, will remain online for the rest of the academic year the shared intention is for in-person learning on campus to increase for priority groups. Priority groups include those studying in disciplines that are dependent on in-person small group learning as is the case for ELE and as restrictions ease there is an expectation that there should be greater opportunity to provide increasing levels of small group learning.

They also acknowledge that education providers will make their own plans for how they move forward based on their own context specific assessments and will communicate them with their students, learners and staff.  Within the plans, the health and safety of students, learners and staff must always come first, with an understanding that they will need to adapt as the situation changes, in line with the public health advice. Every effort must continue to facilitate social distancing and limit congregation, adhering closely to the guidance to safeguard the health and safety of everyone.

In light of the nature and demands of quality English language education, the need to meet the pedagogical requirements of its students, alongside recognising the serious challenges that have arisen within this sector as it transitioned to online delivery, ELE providers should in Level 3 commence the process of providing English language education in-person and in classroom based settings where it can take place safely and in small groups. This is consistent with the approach being adopted in further and higher education.

English language education provided on that basis should, therefore, be regarded as encompassed within the priority groups highlighted by the Minister that are dependent on in-person small group learning. However, classroom based provision is only possible once it is safe to do so and is in line with public health guidelines.

Consequently, ELE providers are requested to examine and assess their individual arrangements to provide classroom based learning for small groups in a safe manner. However, it is acknowledged that while some providers, based on their assessments, will decide that it is safe to return to in-person classroom learning, other providers may consider it necessary to develop a structured plan, implementing online or blended learning solutions during this period of Level 3 restrictions, building towards increasing levels of in-person small group learning over time. If such a plan is necessary, it should be notified to the Department of Justice prior to 7 January 2021.

It is a priority for this sector to urgently develop and put in place the sector specific guidance and protocols required to ensure that in person English language education, safeguards learners, staff and the communities in which providers are located.  Pending the finalisation and implementation of these protocols it is obviously essential that ELE providers continue to strictly comply with the HSA Return to Work Protocol.