As the Sinn Féin Spokesperson for Higher and Further Education, Research, Innovation & Science, I am calling on Minister Harris to urgently clarify the situation regarding attendance at Youth Reach, Apprentices and education and training centres.
We need a National Response from the Minister. It is not good enough to just leave it to Centres and Education and Training Boards to decide. Trainees are being forced to travel for unnecessary business while we are on Level 5 and the key message is to ‘stay at home’.
This is not a time for putting the health of trainees or tutors at risk. We need a consistent approach to training programmes and apprenticeships. Youth Reach is an extension of second level and should be treated in a similar manner when addressing public health issues.
Trainees need to be reassured that they will not be penalised for non-attendance to any courses that are running this week.
