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LAST UPDATE | 6 Jan 2021
GCSE, AS AND A-level schools examinations in Northern Ireland will not to go ahead this year because of Covid-19.
Education Minister Peter Weir announced the decision in the Stormont assembly today.
It comes amid stricter lockdown measures to stop a rise in transmission of coronavirus and prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed by new cases.
An additional 13 deaths with Covid-19 were reported in Northern Ireland today, while another 1,985 people have tested positive.
Hospitality occupancy across Northern Ireland was put at 102%.
There are a total of 592 Covid-confirmed inpatients, 44 of whom are being treated in intensive care.
Following the public health advice has never mattered so much, Stormont’s First Minister Arlene Foster said.
“We will be asking everyone to help us get through the next period of time by complying with the public health messaging and by adhering to the full range of restrictions because it has never mattered so much.”
Schools will close in most cases, with youngsters to be taught via remote learning.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said children had been under pressure over the last year and denied the opportunity to mix with their peers.
She claimed many had been “left hanging” and not knowing if they will have to sit transfer tests for grammar schools.
O’Neill confirmed the new measures would include remote learning for schools, limited contact in domestic settings and statutory measures to support the stay-at-home message.
“Our priorities remain unchanged, we are committing to saving lives, protecting our health service from being overwhelmed and doing all that we can to reduce the spread of this deadly virus,” she said.
There is still little clarity on transfer tests for entry into grammar schools, which were initially cancelled only for the Association for Quality Education to announce they will hold a single exam in February.
Stay-at-home advice is to be put into legislation from midnight on Thursday, with additional powers being given to the PSNI to enforce the measures.
Household mixing will be reduced to just one other household or social bubble.
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@Ken Hayden: Well it can’t be Mayo because they would have failed to get their hands on the silverware.
Fair play. If you leave stuff lying around what do you expect!!
Leg it
Ocean’s 29
@Frank Martin: Although now that someone mentioned Mayo , I might have to reevaluate .
@Andy Jackson: The most famous jewel thieves in recent history in the United States and Europe are Europeans or of European descent (Italian-American), the notorious Pink Panthers were from Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia. What makes you think the thieves are Moroccan?
@Andy Jackson: The country will start with an m and end in an o , but I doubt its Morocco .
@Ken Hayden: Montenegro
Any chance the Journal run an article of importance to the Irish public like the crisis concerning the lack of teachers due to the moronic policies of past governments.
@Tom Reilly: Go back to bed Tom. The lads are just doing their jobs. You get to read about all that on a near daily basis its getting old.
@Stefan Epure: Stefan, do you realise that you are not making sense?
@Tom Reilly: Read it again you just might get it.
@Frank Martin: bingo !
@Ken Hayden: monaco
@Ken Hayden: Mexico?
To come up with a plan to rob a jewellry display:
Hatchet
Slightly bigger than a mouseshit.
Ratchet.
It being France they should have done on a sunday or better still a Sunday in August . No scratch that , been france t stroke wouldnt happen .
Smash, grab and run. Oops!
France is on red alert for terrorism these guys were dumb to try it on.
After a 6 month hiatus…nothing has changed
But nothing inessential in January.
Buy nothing inessential.
have your say