Children in third class and above should not be excluded from schools ‘in the first instance’ for not wearing masks, a new advice to schools issued by the Department of Education said today. The schools have to engage with parents of children in case of not wearing a mask. If no progress is made, an inspector from the Department of Education will be contacted.
According to a report by the Irish Times, Schools and parents can together agree for a child (from third class and up) not to wear masks for certain reasons. No medical certificate is needed to do so, the advice says. Both parties can agree for not wearing mask if the child suffers issues such as difficulty of breathing or other medical conditions. Earlier the instruction was to stop a child from entering the school without a mask if the child does not possess a medical certificate.
“It should also be noted that where a school is aware, having consulted with the parent/guardian that a child’s needs are such that mask-wearing is not appropriate, no medical certification is needed,” the advisory states.
A pupil who is unable to remove the cloth face mask/covering or visor without assistance is also exempt along with children who have special needs or those with intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, sensory concerns or tactile sensitivity.
Visors should be considered where face masks present an impediment to communication for pupils with a hearing impairment. Schools are asked to use their judgement in such cases.
Pupils do not have to wear a mask while eating their lunch at their desks or taking a drink during class.
The move was following expert opinion that the virus infection rate among children grows rapidly in the country in recent weeks. Children aged nine and above have to wear masks in public places too, just like the adults.