The Department of Education says schools should engage with parents, if a child turns up to class without a mask.
The revised advice comes after the department released instructions last week that schools should refuse entry to older children in primary school if they wouldn’t wear a mask.
In another u-turn the new document says a child will now not need a medical certificate, to show for health reasons they are unable to wear a mask.
Meanwhile 9 million euro has been secured to give free antigen tests for college students.
The funds will also be used to launch an awareness campaign on how to use a antigen test properly.
Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris believes the initiative is an added measure in protecting the third level sector.
