70% of NI students are not using online classes, says Education Committee

By Connor Stringer

Over 70% of students in Northern Ireland are not accessing teaching that has moved online as a result of Coronavirus, it has been revealed.

During a meeting of the Northern Ireland Assembly Education Committee, Departmental Officials confirmed that 240,000 of the some 340,000 students in Northern Ireland are not using digital classes during the lockdown.

It comes after First Minister Arlene Foster announced the closure of schools in Northern Ireland last month.

Education Committee member Daniel McCrossan has described the statistics as 'hugely concerning'.

He said: "It is hugely worrying that a vast majority of students in the North have not engaged with online classes since schools have been closed.

“Not only could this impact on educational outcomes and exams, but it also calls into question whether other means of teaching students have been successfully deployed.

“The root causes of this problem need to be investigated immediately. I have written to the Minister requesting that his Department review this issue immediately and propose recommendations. This could have a hugely detrimental impact on students should online classes be inaccessible for many.”

The Social Democrat and Labour Party member has written to the department Minister Peter Weir to look into the issue as a matter of urgency.