Reopening schools: Looking for international ‘outs’ – New Zealand and Denmark
Mark Langhammer, Northern Ireland regional secretary writes about why Government should only reopen schools when it is safe to do.
NEU Northern Ireland has a staff of four Regional Officials campaigning to ensure that the Northern Ireland Assembly and education authorities provide the best for education professional and pupils in every educational institution in Northern Ireland.
Agreement on teachers' pay and conditions of service is reached through the Teachers' Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee (Schools) which comprises the employing authorities/employer representatives, the Department of Education (DE) and the five recognised teachers' unions NEU is one of the five unions that make up the Northern Ireland Teachers Council (NITC).
Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC) accepts teachers' pay offer
Today (23 April 2020) the Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC) – the body which makes up the Teachers’ Side of the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee has announced that it will be accepting the terms of the Pay and Workload Agreement presented to them on 8 April 2020.
Read the full press release.
Watch and share our video
Coronavirus update
Coronavirus: social distancing in education settings in NI
Advice for education provision for children within the defined groups who cannot be safely cared for at home. Every child who can be safely cared for at home should be, to limit the chance of the virus spreading. Where this is not possible for example to enable critical workers to attend work, or for vulnerable children who need care for their health and safety, then provision may be provided.
The full advice is available to read or download
Awarding for qualifications summer 2020
NEU has received many queries in relation to the provision of estimated grades and rank-ordering of students for the summer examinations/ qualifications 2020. Broadly, we have welcomed the exercise of teachers’ professional judgement in providing grades, but have serious reservations about the compulsory ranking proposed, and have sought more detail on statistical methodologies.
Read the interim guidance for detailed submissions made to OFQUAL, DE, CCEA and others.
News and blogs on coronavirus
-
Blog
-
Press release
Unions warn against premature reopening of schools
The General Secretaries of 10 teacher trade unions across the UK and Ireland have written to the Education Ministers in all 5 jurisdictions urging “significant caution in any consideration of reopening schools.
-
Blog
When should schools and colleges re-open?
NEU’s Regional Secretary, Mark Langhammer's blog on NEU's ten demands for a proposed return for schools, colleges and educational settings.
-
Blog
We are living in extraordinary times
NEU’s Regional Secretary, Mark Langhammer continues his weekly blog in this second week of school closures in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.
-
Blog
Should we trust the UK Government?
Week of 30 March, Professor Scally published important articles in the Irish Times and Irish News which were widely read and debated, and get to the heart of the UK Government’s approach to the Covid-19 crisis. Prof. Scally’s article is reproduced here in full, without the need for further comment.
-
Blog 
Extent of the Covid-19 or coronavirus
Thoughts on a slow-motion catastrophe – Making up for lost ground? By Mark Langhammer, Northern Ireland regional secretary
-
NITC and NEU call for the planned closure of schools in Northern Ireland
Schools should close now in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the NEU statement.
Online learning resources
Free CPD offer: 'Teaching and supporting remote learners online'
NEU members, Cecilia O'Hagan and Audrey Currie, from Stranmillis University College, have developed and made available to teachers 'Teaching and Supporting Remote Learners online' specifically as a community contribution to support teachers working from home during the Covid-19 crisis.
This 4-week professional learning course has been designed by the college at this time to support educational professionals working from home during the suspension of teaching in NI schools and colleges.
The focus of the course is on the promotion of ‘teacher presence’ for all children, using simple technology skills such as webinar and video lessons. This is a supportive course for teachers to enhance the wellbeing of children and young people while working from home.
The course is free, and we thank Celia and Audrey for this generous initiative at a difficult time.
Fighting Words
Fighting Words is a well established programme to help children and young people, and adults who did not have this opportunity as children, to discover and harness the power of their own imaginations and creative writing skills. At its core, Fighting Words is also about something much broader and more inclusive. It is about using the creative practice of writing and storytelling to strengthen our children and teenagers – from a wide range of backgrounds – to be resilient, creative and successful shapers of their own lives.
Programmes
- Un-school club: Call for submissions from both young writers (6-12 years) and older writers (13-17 years) with dedicated pages and tailored content.
- Fighting Words story starter - a mini-site that generates story prompts for primary school format for English and Irish.
- Fought Words writing videos - videos on starting a story and writing tips for teens. And a song-writing workshop.
Advice and guidance
Advice
Implementing social distancing in education settings in NI
Every child who can be safely cared for at home should be, to limit the chance of the virus spreading.
Advice 
Coronavirus: advice and guidance on exam cancellation (Northern Ireland)
Twelve points on exam cancellation for GCSEs, AS, A-levels and International Baccalaureate
Training in Northern Ireland
NEU Northern Ireland is committed to helping members develop throughout their careers. Members can access a comprehensive range of continuing professional development (CPD) courses through NEU, most of which are free to all members.
Newsletters and events
-
NEU Northern Ireland Newletters
The latest editions of newsletters for members in Northern Ireland including Reps bulletin and Frontline.
