Coronavirus / Covid-19

Important Customer Notice

If you need to contact the Department you will find the information you need here: Contacting the Department of Education and Skills

State Examinations

Challenges of Organising Examinations with Social Distancing Requirements

Advisory Group for Contingency Planning for State Examinations 2020

Leaving Certificate 2020

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Information for Leaving Certificate students, including wellbeing information and resources is available at: www.gov.ie/leavingcertificate.

Leaving Certificate 2020 - Calculated Grades Student Portal

The Leaving Certificate 2020 - Calculated Grades Student Portal is now closed.

See: Leaving Certificate Calculated Grades Student Portal

Click on the poster to download

See also:

Calculated Grades guidance for schools

08 May, 2020 – Minister announces postponement of 2020 Leaving Certificate examinations

A guidance document for the education system and others in relation to the system of Calculated Grades 

Frequently asked Questions for students, teachers and parents

Advice from the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) in relation to the wellbeing and mental health of Leaving Certificate students in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic

 Junior Certificate 2020

• Junior Cycle Examinations 2020: Questions and Answers
• 29 April 2020 - Assessment and Reporting on Students' Learning at Junior Cycle May 2020
• 29 April 2020 - Junior Cycle Examinations 2020: Questions and Answers

Advice and resources for parents and students

• Calculated Grades – A Guide for Leaving Certificate Students 2020
• Calculated Grades – A Guide for Parents and Guardians of Leaving Certificate Students 2020
• Message for Post-primary Students from President Michael D Higgins
• Message to Sixth Class Students from President Michael D. Higgins
• Continuity of learning: guidance for parents / guardians
• National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) Advice & Resources for keeping Children and Young People well during Covid-19
• 24 April, 2020 - Ministers announce school transport arrangements
• Temporary Procedures for SEN Transport Applications

Resources for schools and other education settings

1. Information and guidance issued to schools

2. Supports to schools and teachers engaged in distance learning

3. NEPS Advice & Resources for keeping Children and Young People well during Covid-19

4. Continuity of guidance counselling provision

5. NEPS: Responding to Critical Incidents during School Closures and Public Health Restrictions arising from COVID-19: Information Booklet for Schools

6. Department circulars and statements

7. Continuation of home tuition 

8. Updated guidance from HSE

9. Chief Medical Officer advice to parents and schools

10. COVID-19 Information posters and video
    

Oireachtas Member Questions & Briefings

• Oireachtas Member Questions & Briefings

Further Information on Covid-19

• gov.ie Coronavirus / COVID-19 Campaign
• Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC): Coronavirus (COVID-19) Overview
• Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC): Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance
• Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC): Guidance on vulnerable groups
• Travel Advice

1. Information and guidance issued to schools

• 02 April - 28 May 2020:Guidance documents for schools and parents on continuity of learning
• 21 - 29 May 2020:Calculated Grades guidance for schools
• 19 May 2020:Supporting schools in providing end-of-year written reports to parents of children in primary school
• 15 May 2020:Guidance for access to schools from 18 May 2020
• 05 May 2020: Supporting the Wellbeing of Post-primary Students
• 29 April 2020:Assessment and Reporting on Students' Learning at Junior Cycle May 2020
• 27 April 2020:Cancellation of Standardised Testing in Primary Schools 2019/2020
• 01 April 2020: Schools administration during the current public health emergency
• 27 March 2020:Circular 0024/2020 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Delay Phase: Arrangements for teachers and special needs assistants employed in recognised primary and post-primary schools
• 25 March 2020: Letter to principals and teachers regarding social distancing
• 16 March 2020: Advisory to the Sector regarding student and staff mobility under Erasmus
• 13 March 2020:Letter to principals and teachers regarding continuity of teaching and learning

2.  Supports to schools and teachers engaged in distance learning 

13 March 2020: Download letter from the Secretary General to principals and teachers regarding continuity of learnng

Access to content that  has been developed to support schools and teachers engaged in distance learning in order to provide continuity to pupils/students:

https://www.pdst.ie/DistanceLearning 

Scoilnet is a resource to support schools, teachers, students and parents

3. NEPS Advice & Resources for keeping Children and Young People well during Covid-19

The Department of Education and Skills’ NEPS psychologists have developed advice and some resources for young people to manage and stay well when schools are closed. Read more

4. Continuity of guidance provision

Guidelines for continued provision of Guidance Counselling and resources to support practice

5. NEPS Responding to Critical Incidents

NEPS: Responding to Critical Incidents during School Closures and Public Health Restrictions arising from COVID-19: Information Booklet for Schools

6. Department circulars and statements

Circulars:

• Circular 0037/2020 - Implementation of Calculated Grades Model for Leaving Certificate 2020
• Circular 0023/2020 – COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Arrangements applying to learner payments in Education and Training Boards
• Circular 0024/2020 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Delay Phase: Arrangements for teachers and special needs assistants employed in recognised primary and post-primary schools
• Circular 0025/2020 - COVID-19 (Coronavirus) - Delay Phase: Arrangements for all staff other than Teachers and SNAs employed by Education and Training Boards
• Circular 0026/2020 - COVID-19 (Coronavirus) - Delay Phase Arrangements for all Public Service employees
• Circular 0027/2020 - COVID-19: Temporary assignment arrangements for certain staff in the education and training sector
• Circular 0028/2020 - COVID-19: Temporary assignment arrangements for certain staff
• FAQ - COVID-19 Frequently asked question regarding temporary assignment arrangements
• Circular 0032/2020 - Grant Scheme for ICT Infrastructure – 2019/2020 School Year €10m funding to issue to primary and post-primary schools
• Circular 0037/2020 - Implementation of Calculated Grades Model for Leaving Certificate 2020

Statements:

• 21 May 2020:: Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD announces publication of guidance for schools on Calculated Grades
• Department of Education and Skills statements on stakeholder engagement in relation to the State Examinations
• 08 May 2020:  Minister announces postponement of 2020 Leaving Certificate examinations
• 29 April 2020: Minister McHugh announces revised arrangements for Junior Cycle 2020
• 27 April 2020:Minister Mitchell O’Connor highlights range of supports available to groups at risk of educational disadvantage in further and higher education during Covid-19
• 23 April 2020:    Minister Mitchell O’Connor welcomes deferral of HPAT results
• 22 April 2020:   Department of Education and Skills statement on stakeholder engagement in relation to the State Examinations
• 22 April 2020:   Minister McHugh announces ICT funding for Schools including €10 million top-up funding
• 17 April 2020:   Department of Education and Skills statement on stakeholder engagement in relation to the State Examinations
• 10 April 2020:   Minister McHugh Announces Postponement of State Examinations
• 01 April 2020:   Minister McHugh announces contingency plans for temporary assignment arrangements for education and training sector staff
• 26 March 2020: Government confirms continued funding for Schools Meals Programme
• 24 March 2020: Covid-19 Statement from the Department of Education and Skills
• 22 March 2020: 22 March, 2020 - Statement from the Department of Education and Skills for students in the English language education sector
• 10 March 2020: Covid-19 – Statement from the Department of Education and Skills

7. Continuation of home tuition

• Letter to parents: COVID-19: Arrangements for continuation of Home Tuition by distance learning for the duration of the pandemic emergency
• Information for tutors: Available resources and training which may support in the continuation of home tuition

8. Updated guidance from HSE

For updated guidance specific to education settings please visit the HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre's (HPSC) website

Link to HSPC guidance on vulnerable groups

9. Chief Medical Officer advice to parents and schools

• 10 March 2020: Letter from the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health, Dr Tony Holohan to school principals
• 02 March 2020: Letter from the Chief Medical Officer to Parents of School & Pre School Children
• 01 March 2020: Letter from the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health, Dr Tony Holohan to school principals 
• 27 February 2020:The Chief Medical Officer from the Department of Health, Dr Tony Holohan, has issued the following letter to parents of school children travelling from affected regions.

10. Posters and video for primary and post-primary schools

COVID-19 Information poster

Click on the poster below to download a copy.

The Department of Education and Skills has updated information for schools, preschools and third level institutions on Covid-19; provided by the Department of Health and HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre following a meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team.

Public health doctors are available to liaise with schools and advise on precautions if staff and/or students have any concerns.

Anyone who has been to affected regions in the last 14 days and has a cough, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties or fever should self-isolate and phone their GP immediately.

Anyone who has travelled from the affected regions and has no symptoms should visit http://www.hse.ie/ for advice.

The most important action we can take to protect ourselves from Covid-19 is regular hand-washing and good respiratory hygiene.

As further advice or information is provided, it will be issued to schools and posted on the Department’s website.

Travel advice for all Irish citizens is provided through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Note - The Covid-19 affected regions are listed as mainland China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Iran and the following regions of northern Italy - Lombardy, Veneto Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont.

"Cover your cough and sneeze"

Click on the posters below to download a copy.

Coronavirus hygiene poster

Click on the poster below to download a copy.

Coronavirus hygiene video

Updated travel advice

Up to date travel advice is available on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade