With Covid-19 cases continuing to surge, and people having to self-isolate, several schools have reported staffing problems, with teaching union NASUWT describing the issue as "significant".

Some schools - such as Mercy College in north Belfast - are introducing staggered remote learning days for some year groups.

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Fiona Kane, principal of St Ronan's College in Lurgan, said her school was facing serious disruption and is implementing a contingency plan that prioritises GCSE and A-Level students for classroom learning, meaning others will be asked to stay home on certain days.

Another principal, Chris Donnelly from St John The Baptist Primary School in west Belfast, said teachers want to pupils in the classroom.

"There is no substitute," he told Good Morning Ulster.

At 12:00 MLAs will debate a motion brought forward by Sinn Féin.

It accuses Education Minister Michelle McIlveen of a "lack of planning".

It also urges the minister to address staffing issues "by utilising and deploying additional teaching capacity to keep schools open and safe".

You can read the motion in full by clicking here. , external

The Department of Education said it would do "everything in our power to help school leaders during these unprecedented and extremely challenging circumstances".

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Hello and welcome to extraordinary coverage of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Recess is still officially ongoing, but MLAs will return to the chamber this afternoon to debate how to keep schools open and safe with Covid-19 cases on the rise.

The motion was brought by Sinn Féin and received backing from other parties, such as the SDLP and Alliance.

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