The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has said there are “no certainties” about the return to on-campus learning.
The group has said that as institutions plan to maximise in-person teaching, health and safety measures must be maintained and strengthened for a sustainable return to college.
In a press statement, Frank Jones, the incoming general secretary of IFUT, said: “Significant and meaningful consultation processes between university staff and management teams, adequate resource provision, and a recognition that there are no certainties are essential to a return to on-campus education in September.”
IFUT feels that “extreme positions” have emerged since the last meeting of the COVID-19 Steering Group, which was attended by stakeholders and Higher Education Minister Simon Harris.
“These range from seeking no requirement for any social distancing in classroom and lecture hall settings to a call for mandatory vaccinations for all in Higher and Further Education”, said Jones, adding: “These developments are not helpful.”
“It is essential that social distancing is maintained, particularly in the classrooms and lecture theatres for the forthcoming semester, a key issue is the need to clarify how social distancing will operate so as to avoid differing strategies and policies in different colleges.”
“This clarity must come from the [Department of Higher Education] and be in line with NPHET Guidelines and be approved by the Chief Medical Officer”, he said.
IFUT is calling for the use of face masks, antigen testing, contact logs and improved ventilation in buildings “as part of the back-up approach”, but these should be considered “complementary to social distancing and not a replacement”.
The group believe “the overcrowding and under-resourcing” of third-level has made dealing with the pandemic even more challenging.
“The student to lecturer ratio, in the region of 20:1, is one of the worst in the developed world and compares with an OECD average of just 15:1”, said Jones.
“The new Department of Higher Education and Research must be adequately
resourced by the Exchequer to enable universities to deliver a viable education
Model.”
Earlier this month, the Irish Universities Association (IUA) published a “Safe Return Plan”, with the Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) and RCSI, which commits to “maximising and optimising the on-campus experience for all students” in the new academic year.
Speaking to The University Times at the time, Chair of Trinity’s IFUT branch John Walsh said it was “surprising and disappointing” that the plan did not explicitly reference social distancing.
“It’s crucial that the return to in-person teaching is phased and incremental over the first semester”, he said. “A comprehensive return to in-person teaching on the first day of teaching term is unworkable and unsafe.”
Under the latest plan, which has the support of government, institutions will implement sanitation and ventilation measures. They will also be expected to manage larger spaces and implement an upper limit on lecture lengths “depending on local context and risk assessment”.
Masks will be required indoors in accordance with public health guidelines.
In June, the government announced its reopening plans for the next semester of college.
“It is expected that the majority of the people over 18 in Ireland will have been vaccinated by September 2021, and so planning is proceeding on the basis that full resumption of on-site activity is possible”, the Department of Higher Education said.
