The country's largest teachers union says it's "unacceptable" for schools to re-open without current public health measures.
ASTI president Deirdre McDonald has accused Minister McHugh of "speaking out of two sides of his mouth."
A new report shows the current two metre social distancing rule would cut back on school time significantly.
While two metres is the recommendation, primary students could only go to class once a week.
Also, secondary school pupils would only be able to attend twice a week.
Yesterday, Joe McHugh said that would be a non-runner.
The Department is now working on a plan to return without social distancing.
Deirdre McDonald says Joe McHugh presented problems and not solutions yesterday:
"The Minister has actually been talking out of two sides of his mouth."
"We learned nothing yesterday, we know the ambition."
"My ambition would be that we have 3 months of sun, but how are we going to get it?"
ASTI Press Statement: Physical distancing for schools must be in line with public health advice https://t.co/156sRY2XGa
— ASTI (@astiunion) June 12, 2020
Minister Provided "Ambition", Not Solutions
Union president Deirdre McDonald says it's obvious that everyone wants to get back into classrooms:
"This... came totally as a surprise to us."
"Yes we know the aim is to open schools fully, absolutely it is."
"We would love to get back to where we left off in March."
"But that's just not possible, unless they have advice from NPHET (The National Public Health Emergency Team) that we aren't party to."
"But we know exactly the same as the general public in terms of public health advice."
"So those are the parameters we're working with."
Header Image: Felix Kästle/dpa
