Children in Ireland have not been back to their classrooms since schools broke for Christmas holidays in late December.

However, as reported by the Independent, all of the country’s schools will begin a phased reopening in two to three weeks, according to Government sources yesterday. Under the proposals that are currently being examined, Leaving Cert students would be going back to school first, with a started phased return of mainstream classes planned to take place during the week of February 22. Next up are primary school students, would come back on a similarly phased basis from March 1, with secondary school students said to be returning later that same month. According to reports, the Leaving Certificate is also set to go ahead with both traditional exams and calculated grades, with students said to be offered the choice of calculated grades, a written examination, or both. Government sources reportedly told the Independent that most of the 60,000 students set to sit their Leaving Cert this year wanted the option of taking the traditional written exam and/or accepting a calculated grade. The Cabinet is expected to sign off on the dual approach at a meeting on Tuesday. "The students need clarity and they need it now," a source told the paper. "This issue will not be allowed to go beyond Tuesday.