Post-primary students are no longer required to wear masks in Northern Ireland

As reported by the BBC News, for the first time since the start of term in August 2021, post-primary schools in Northern Ireland will no longer require their pupils to to wear face coverings in the classrooms

Michelle McIlveen, the education minister announced she was removing the requirement and adopting the line taken by the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

In England the guidance has been in place since January.

The COVID advice from the Department of Education to schools in Northern Ireland was guidance rather than law. It recommended that post-primary pupils wear a face mask in all school areas such as classrooms, corridors and toilets.

Primary pupils do not have to wear masks in school but are advised to do so on school transport.

McIlveen said masks helped reducing COVID cases but had also “disrupted learning by making communication with teaching staff and peers more difficult”.

“I have taken into account the views of the Department of Health, trade unions, school staff, the parents who have either spoken or written to me and the young people who I have met in schools and through other avenues.

“I have also taken into account a range of studies from across the UK on this issue.

“As a result of my review of this guidance, from 21 March, the recommendation that face coverings are worn by post-primary pupils in classrooms will be removed from my department’s guidance,” McIlveen said.