Dickson Pleased by Enhanced Guidance for Better Ventilation in Schools

East Antrim Alliance MLA, Stewart Dickson, has said he is pleased that the Department for Education is starting to take ventilation in schools seriously.

Mr Dickson said: “We are not yet in ‘post-Covid’ times but we are trying to carry on with as close to normal life as possible. In order to facilitate this, an important aspect must be proper indoor ventilation. Especially in our schools.

“I have been asking the Education Minister for months to develop a plan to ventilate classrooms properly, and am glad to see she is finally beginning to heed my advice.

“In a recent letter, the Minister informed me that she circulated enhanced guidance to schools at the beginning of December, and has set up a support helpline for schools experiencing ventilation issues or concerns”.

Mr Dickson concluded by saying: “In the last week of January, one in five children were absent from school, one in every ten teachers, and one in every twenty classroom assistants.

“We are moving in the right direction, but Covid is still causing havoc in our schools, and a focus on proper ventilation will help to mitigate its worst effects”.