Clare Students Highlight Social Difficulties Caused By Pandemic Lockdowns

Clare FM

Clare students say isolation during the pandemic has resulted in social difficulties on their return to education. It comes at the National Learning Network, which has services in Ennis, has reported a serious rise in those unable to return to school or college. The National Learning Network provides a range of flexible training programmes and support services for people who need specialist support in 50 centres around the country, including in Ennis. It's reporting a 'serious rise' in the number of students unable to return to school or college since the pandemic, which it says is due to a number of reasons. It says some students have experienced social difficulties, after months of isolation, when students endured long periods of remote learning. Siobhan Foran, from West Clare, who's a student at the National Learning Network in Ennis says lockdowns had a huge impact on them mentally and physically. A COVID Inquiry is set to be established by the end of the Dail's Summer recess. Ennis Student Conor Short says adjusting to social aspects, having missed out on the start of their 2nd level education was particularly difficult for some students.