Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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203. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is satisfied with the level of online teaching available to sixth year students in post-primary schools during the current level 5 Covid-19 restrictions; if her attention has been drawn to the disparities in the amount and quality online teaching provided between classes in the same school and between different schools generally; the way complaints from parents regarding the matter can be dealt with; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3261/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The public health restrictions which resulted in the closure of schools in March 2020 highlighted the absolute necessity for schools to be agile in providing for continuity of schooling in the future. A s a contingency measure against the possibility of partial or full school closures, my Department has already provided a suite of guidance materials, agreed with the education partners, to enable schools to facilitate the continuity of learning. These are available at www.gov.ie/backtoschool.

This documentation has been complemented by Circular 0074/2020 (Communication/Teaching & Learning Platform) which requires all schools to have in place appropriate contingency measures to ensure that they are prepared to continue to support teaching and learning in the event of a partial or full closure of schools arising from Public Health advice.

It is crucially important that the learning of all students are supported at this time. Teachers should continue to engage with their students and differentiate teaching and learning in line with their students’ needs to minimise disruption to their learning and progression.

Should a parent have concerns regarding teaching and learning in their child’s school, this can be done by discussing the matter informally with the principal. If the matter cannot be resolved informally, the school should have a formal complaints procedure that can be followed which includes referring the matter to the board of management of the school concerned by writing to the Chairperson of the Board of Management.

The Department is also engaging with schools to support and advise on remote learning provision so that any difficulties experienced by individual schools can be addressed in line with published guidance.