John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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109. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will outline planned research into the impact on student learning from the disruption during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45746/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Department of Education Inspectorate has monitored educational provision by schools in both remote and onsite schooling contexts. Research carried out by the Inspectorate has captured a range of perspectives, including those of principals, teachers, parents and students, on how schools have operated, on teaching and learning, and on pupils’/students’ experience of school and their engagement in learning. This research has included surveys of different stakeholders, discussions with school principals, and inspectors meeting with focus groups of students and parents.

A suite of reports on research on the return to school carried out by the Inspectorate in the September-December 2020 period is available at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/a0bff-reopening-our-primary-and-special-schools/#reports-and-other-information.

A further suite of reports on research on provision for remote teaching and learning during the period of school closure in January and February 2021 is available at www.gov.ie/en/collection/de987-remote-teaching-and-learning-reports/.

The outcomes of the Department of Education Inspectorate research, together with research carried out by a range of national research and academic institutions, have informed the ongoing supports and guidance provided by the Department of Education to schools to ensure that teaching and learning experiences are as meaningful as possible for all pupils/students in both a remote and a face-to-face schooling context.

The Department of Education will continue to monitor the impact of the pandemic on learners in light of the ongoing research from its Inspectorate and from academic institutions and research agencies.