The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
WITH high levels of absenteeism among both children and staff during the current wave of the pandemic, it’s a difficult time in the county’s schools.
Peter Walsh, principal of St Conaire’s in Shannon said that a lot of problems have to be dealt with.
“I suppose there’s more Covid in the community and therefore there’s more in the schools. The children aren’t vaccinated so they’re bound to be more susceptible when it is in the community.
“The lack of contact tracing also causes us an issue, in relation to it being pulled from schools. You see the schools replicating what’s happening in the community, I guess.”
With teachers absent across all schools, it is increasingly difficult to find cover.
“The vast majority would be vaccinated, but the problem is if they are off we are having difficulty replacing them, it’s a system-wide crisis.
“We have a supply panel, a couple of supply panels actually here in Clare, but they tend to fill up very, very quickly. Then, to try and find teachers for substitution or special needs assistants (SNAs) is very difficult.”
While things are challenging, the schools has to keep responding to the challenges as best it can.
“Last week we had no teachers for two classes, so the Special Education Teachers (SETs) had to go in and cover. You can’t mix classes any more, can’t split them, so you have to keep them together and if you can’t find a sub the SETs go in, or you look elsewhere, you have to make do.
“It’s a big juggling act, you want to keep things going, want to make sure the children are getting the best possible eduction.
“I’d imagine every single school is in the same situation, looking at the numbers that are there and the numbers of children that are out, last week over 8,000 were out, and that doesn’t factor in the number of staff that would have been out.
“In the first 12 days of November we had 27 substitutable days and we were only able to get substitutes for 18 of the 27 days and I feel we were doing well to get that many.”
Mary Costello is principal of St Patrick’s Comprehensive school, also in Shannon, and she said that things are very difficult at second level also.
“Our most significant staff cohort would be teachers, but staff absence also includes your custodial staff, your caretakers, your cleaners, your SNA staff, it’s impacting right across the board there and it is proving challenging.
“Teacher absence and cover for teacher absence is becoming increasingly difficult, we are managing at the moment but it is becoming increasingly difficult.
“Certainly cover for SNAs is becoming increasingly challenging as well. And again what happens is the most vulnerable students, who need that support, the resources for them are getting spread thinner and thinner. It’s disruptive and distressing, but it’s unavoidable.”
She said a huge effort is being made, at a very tough time, and it is taking a toll on the school community.
“I really think huge credit has to go to the staff in schools, they’re doing their best but we’re climbing uphill and it’s tough going. Everybody is exhausted, staff and students.
“We have wonderful compliance here in terms of the protocols, massive support from students, staff and parents, but it’s hard going.
“The weather is getting very cold but we have to have ventilation, we have the CO2 monitors but we still have to have the windows open, The conditions are challenging but again I have to give huge credit to our school community, right across the board for the level of compliance and the level of collegiality that is there. We are trying to pull together, but it’s increasingly difficult.”
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.
