ALL schools will open tomorrow (Monday 19 April).
However, students in Ballakermeen High School Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9) are being asked to stay at home due to staff shortages.
Minister for Education and Children Eddie Teare MHK made the decision tonight (Sunday) after close consultation with senior officers.
It is estimated that more than 100 school teaching staff are stranded in the UK and further afield at the end of the Easter holidays as a result of the cancellation of almost all flights due to the volcanic ash cloud. This is out of a total school teaching staff of approximately 800. It will not be until schools reopen tomorrow that the final picture is clear.
There had been concerns this might impact on the ability of more schools to open fully. However, Director of Education and Children John Cain has this weekend kept in close contact with headteachers, who have in turn been receiving messages from stranded staff.
Some 17 teaching staff at Ballakermeen, plus other staff, who had been due back on the first day of term have been unable to get back to the Island and this has necessitated the closure of Key Stage 3.
The priority was to maintain examination classes. The special unit will also be open.
The situation will be kept under review during Monday and a further announcement will be made at close of school on Monday regarding Tuesday and the rest of the week.
Education staff are being deployed to schools to assist the situation.
