Teachers are concerned that students will flood classrooms next week and spread virus
Teachers have warned some schools “cannot provide a safe environment” if students return for Term 2 next week in large numbers. The State Government disagrees. How do you think your children should be educated?
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Teachers have increased pressure on the state and federal government declaring some classrooms will be unsafe from the coronavirus when students return for term two.
Parents are being told by government it is safe to return children to the classroom when school holidays end next week.
But the Australian Education Union today will launch a #keepthemhome campaign and wants no more than ten students to one teacher, but the move has been branded “incredibly irresponsible and dangerous” by the State Government.
This would allow social distancing in the classroom, meeting a nationally set guideline.
AEU President Lara Golding said, “Schools and preschools with high student attendance cannot provide a safe environment as described by the AHPPC Guidelines”.
The Advertiser revealed last week only around one in three parents are planning to return children to school, prompting the state government to encourage a return, and declaring all schools would remain open for term two.
Education Minister John Gardner today insisted schools were safe.
“I encourage all South Australians to listen to the advice of our Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier,’’ he said.
“Her advice is clear and unequivocal that schools should remain open and are safe environments for learning.
“Nicola Spurrier and our senior public health officers have done an outstanding job keeping South Australians safe during this crisis and for the AEU to actively undermine their advice at a time like this is incredibly irresponsible and dangerous.”
Ms Golding said other state governments were encouraging parents to keep their children home and setting guidelines for safe class sizes.
“Social isolation is common sense,’’ she said.
“It seems that our Premier has less regard for the health and safety of his education staff and students than interstate leaders.”
“Unless Premier Marshall can guarantee the health and safety of students and staff in preschools and schools, parents should keep their children home wherever they can.”
Ms Golding said teachers at two in every three schools had responded to a survey that students were not practising social distancing.
“Late last term, despite state government assurances, an AEU survey of 1400 members demonstrated that most sites did not have adequate hand sanitiser, rigorous or frequent touch point cleaning,” she said.
“According to 71.4 per cent of members participating in the survey identified that students are not practising social distancing.”
