Public schools will reopen at the start of the new term next year on a remote basis, it was revealed tonight.

Diallo Rabain, the education minister, said the regime would run from January 5 to January 12.

Mr Rabain said: “Teachers will begin online learning and non-digital packages will be distributed to students as required.”

A spokeswoman for the education ministry said the move came after a meeting of the Education Emergency Measures Committee.

She added the committee would have further discussions on how the Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy for special needs pupils would operate.

The spokeswoman said parents and staff would be notified first of any decisions made.

The EEMC will also meet in the first week of January to decide if more adjustments would need to be made to the January 13 in-classroom start date for public schools.

Mr Rabain said: “We recognise that the decision to continue remote learning until January 12 may be inconvenient for many families and we apologise for this.

“However, our intent is to alert parents now in order for them to accommodate students remaining at home for remote learning.

“We will provide an update to our school community and the public following the EEMC meeting in early January.”