Catholic schools’ representatives have said schools are “delighted” as all classes return for the first time, though challenging times remain ahead.
Mr Seamus Mulconry of the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association (CPSMA) said schools know “an hour in the classroom is worth a week online”.
“Schools are delighted and it’s far easier to have a full reopening than a partial one,” Mr Mulconry said.
His sentiments were echoed by Mr John Curtis of the Joint Managerial body for voluntary secondary schools (JMB/AMCSS), who said it is “one of the good days”.
“Obviously there’ll be complications here and there,” he said. “In fairness to the department, they’ve supported us a well but the bigger issue as a society is that we try to minimise community infection. It will help keep our children in schools during the course of this term.”