11 public schools close, Catholic Education calls for close contact review to help students, staff back to classroom

The number of public schools closed due to Covid has dropped from 15 overnight to 11, as infections continue to throw the education system into chaos. See which schools are affected.

The number of public schools closed across the state has jumped to 15 overnight and more closures are expected before the term ends as Covid wreaks havoc across the education system.

The Education Department said as of Wednesday, 10 sites had transitioned entirely to remote learning.

Earlier on Thursday, Education Minister Blair Boyer said 15 government-run schools were closed with all of their students learning from home.

The figure was adjusted in the afternoon to 11, with Blakeview reopening on Thursday, and Henley High moving different year levels to remote learning each day until term’s end. Two schools - Port Lincoln Primary and Seaford Secondard - have specialist classes on remote learning.

Mr Boyer said the closures were due to the current peak in cases across the state.

“It has climbed a little bit in the last few days, of course you have to give that a bit of perspective in the context of the entire public system it’s not a lot but I completely accept for those schools, for those staff students and parents its pretty tough out there,” Mr Boyer told ABC Radio Adelaide on Thursday.

He said he suspected more schools would close in coming days.

“Given the advice that we have from SA Health … that we anticipate that we are in the peak at the moment … I would think that before the school term ends in the final days next week we are probably going to have schools added to that list,” he said.

It comes as the latest data shows that on Tuesday, about 7350 students – or 4.2 per cent of all of those learning in government schools – were absent for Covid-related reasons.

That compares with 3.1 per cent on March 21.

Meanwhile, 567 teachers and 386 school services officers were away.

On Wednesday the state recorded a new daily high of Covid cases, 5784, and two more deaths – a woman in her 90s and a man in his 80s.

Catholic Education has called for the easing of close contact rules to help more teachers and students get back to the classroom.

Catholic Education South Australia director Neil McGoran said a review was needed of quarantine requirements for asymptomatic close contacts.

Catholic Education SA director Neil McGoran at Dominican School, Semaphore, pictured with students last year. Picture: Mike Burton

“This would enable more students and staff to attend school,” he said.

Dr McGoran also wanted parents to be allowed into boarding houses.

“It is fair to say that the pandemic is putting considerable pressure on staff, and they are working tirelessly to support our students,” he said.

Last week 146 Catholic schools staff were absent due to Covid – not including those isolating or caring for family members – along with 1273 students.

Independent Education Union SA secretary Glen Seidel said teachers were “stressed to the max” covering classes for absent staff and working remotely but “there’s no simple solution”.

“There’s no big pool of teachers out there that can just be wheeled out,” he said.

Mr Seidel said last week’s lifting of a state government mandate for teachers to be vaccinated would do little to free up teachers to return to the classroom.

“There aren’t that many people out there that haven’t been vaccinated,” he said.

The state government earlier this year called for retired teachers to put their hand up to help cover expected shortages, with more than 100 flagging an interest.

Prince Alfred College headmaster Bradley Fenner at a school gala dinner at the Convention Centre. Picture: Festival City Photography

But Mr Seidel said: “I don’t know how many retired teachers are going to want to come back into this chaos.”

Catholic Education is consulting staff and contractors about a proposal to require staff to be vaccinated, despite the government lifting its mandate.

Association of independent Schools of SA chief executive Carolyn Grantskalns said the state’s private schools would take their own approaches to the issue, with some looking to make vaccinations compulsory for staff.

Prince Alfred College headmaster Bradley Fenner said his school had about 10 staff off after either testing positive or being close household contacts.

He said teachers were coming up with creative workarounds, such as instructing their students from home via a large screen at the front of the classroom, while children were supervised at school by a relief teacher.

“Managing Covid has been challenging, but it's manageable,” Mr Fenner said.

“The masks is something we’ve been dealing with and when we no longer have to wear masks, that will be very welcome.

“It’s just that slow journey back to normality.”

An SA Health spokeswoman said the department continued to review close contact requirements for South Australians.

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