Skip to main content
Department of Education Department of Education

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Topics
  • Publications
  • Consultations
  • Contact

Translation help

Translate this page

Select a language

  • Arabic — عربي
  • Chinese (Simplified) — 中文简体
  • Chinese (Traditional) — 中文繁體
  • Dutch — Nederlands
  • Filipino — Filipino
  • French — Français
  • German — Deutsch
  • Hungarian — Magyar
  • Irish — Gaeilge
  • Italian — Italiano
  • Latvian — Latviešu
  • Lithuanian — Lietuvių kalba
  • Polish — Polski
  • Portuguese — Português
  • Romanian — Română
  • Russian — Русский
  • Slovak — Slovenčina
  • Spanish — Español
  • Ukrainian — Українська
  • Statement from Education Minister on the use of face coverings in schools

    Date published: 25 March 2022

    Education Minister Michelle McIlveen has made a written ministerial statement to the Northern Ireland Assembly on the use of face coverings by post-primary pupils in schools.

    The Minister has confirmed that when schools return after the Easter break, it will no longer be recommended that post-primary pupils wear a face covering in corridors or confined communal areas. This will result in post-primary pupils no longer being recommended to wear a face covering on school premises.

    A copy of the Minister’s statement is available here: Written statement

    A guidance note has been issued to all schools and is available here: Guidance note

    Notes to editors:

     

    1. Follow us on Twitter @Education_NI
    2. Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office at Press.Office@education-ni.gov.uk.
    3. The Executive Information Service operates an out-of-hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

    Latest news

    • Education Minister cuts the first sod on new £15.3m Millennium Integrated Primary School

      12 November 2025

    • Guidelines on school uniforms issued to schools

      12 November 2025

    • Final call for views on the future of CCEA GCSEs, AS levels and A levels

      5 November 2025

    • Paul Givan visits Ofek School in Jerusalem

      27 October 2025

    More news …
    Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on X (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

    Department footer links

    • Crown copyright
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy
    • Cookies
    • Accessibility
    • The Northern Ireland Executive
    • The Executive Office
    • Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
    • Department for Communities
    • Department for Education
    • Department for the Economy
    • Department of Finance
    • Department for Infrastructure
    • Department for Health
    • Department of Justice
    • nidirect.gov.uk — the official government website for Northern Ireland citizens