There is scope for some ACT public school students to return earlier than planned if a range of public health restrictions are loosened in the coming months.
As it sits now, most ACT public school students will undertake their learning remotely online at home for Term 2.
ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry said the Territoryโs public school system could manage a change in circumstances that would lead to more students in classrooms.
โIf we do need to go back sooner rather than the end of Term 3, which is what weโve been planning for, then we will be able to do that,โ Ms Berry said.
โFour weeks ago, when we talked about schools delivering education in a different way โฆ we all said that it was very easy to pull children out of schools.
โGetting children back to school is going to be a little more difficult, so weโre going to need some time to make sure that is as seamless as possible โฆ Weโll take all the time that we need,โ she said.
ACT Chief Minster Andrew Barr said the Territoryโs decision to pursue a remote online education model for Term 2 is โentirely consistentโ with current national schooling principles.
โWe will continue the rollout of our education program for Term 2 exactly as we have announced. That, of course, has the capacity to scale up should there be an increase in students wishing to attend ACT public schools,โ Mr Barr said.
He said the current social distancing and public gathering measures will remain in place for at least the next four weeks, with a review of those measures to be undertaken in the next two to three weeks.
โWere we in a position in four weeksโ time to be loosening a range of restrictions, then that may well have a consequential flow on into the educational sector.
โWe also continue our medium-term work on what Term 3 and the rest of the school year will look like, with the ability to respond to a changed public health environment,โ he said.
Australian Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy said yesterday the most important health consideration around education is protecting teachers.
โWe are recommending that teachers practise good distancing, particularly with other adults but also some distancing in the classroom.
โWe know that children don’t seem to be transmitting this virus to any great extent in schools, but clearly some children have picked up this virus, a small number, mostly in the family.
โWe have recommended that older teachers and teachers with chronic disease not be working in the classroom,โ he said.
