Irish Examiner View: Pupils need more than aspirations, a detailed back-to-school plan is required.

Nobody is disputing that the challenges involved in keeping pupils and teachers safe and getting them back into the classroom will be enormous, but they can’t wait any longer.

The department has promised to announce detailed guidelines on reopening schools at the end of the month but that leaves little time to implement a long list of measures that includes everything from staff training, infection control, and the need for hand sanitiser and PPE.

Time is running out. Schools are due to reopen in a few short weeks yet parents, teachers and, most importantly, pupils have no idea what the school day will look like.

In the absence of government guidelines, schools around the country are reportedly looking at ways to tailor their own resources so that they can open their doors in late August/early September.