Covid-19: Three SA schools close, hundreds of students work from home

Three schools have closed their doors to most children and hundreds more students are working remotely as principals warn the Covid wave has teachers at breaking point.

At least three schools have shut their doors to all children except those of essential workers, as principals and teachers flag growing concerns about burnout amid escalating Covid-19 cases and isolation rules.

The schools involved have moved to remote learning.

Paralowie School has closed for two days, with its 1463 primary and secondary students expected to return to classrooms next week.

The Education Department on Thursday said two other schools had also closed – but did not clarify which ones. Students at those schools would learn remotely until Monday.

The department said there were also seven sites with classes temporarily closed and two schools with whole year levels sent home.

Sacred Heart principal Steve Byrne said his school had 450 of its 1900 students absent on Thursday.

There were also 20-30 teaching and support staff off daily.

Sacred Heart College principal Steve Byrne. Picture: Supplied

The school is combining classes in larger spaces – such as function areas – to help make do during staff absences. The largest group so far has been about 60 students, supervised by two teachers.

Mr Byrne said a rethink was needed of the state’s Covid-19 restrictions, including where people are deemed a close contact if they have been near a positive case for more than 15 minutes.

Mr Byrne said the school had 40-50 positive cases among its students this week.

“We’re at a tipping point – they’re (teachers) doing their best but you can sense the anxiety levels are increasing.”

Teachers were trying to cover for absent staff and teach students face-to-face, at the same time as providing tasks and corresponding with students who were at home.

Mr Byrne said counsellors were also “inundated” looking after students’ mental health needs.

Sacred Heart teacher Dave Higgins and his family had to isolate during February after his daughter Jess got Covid-19, followed by his wife Nicole.

Australian Education Union SA president Andrew Gohl. Picture: Michelle Etheridge

“The biggest impact was having to home school three kids and also provide work for my students,” Mr Higgins said.

On Thursday, just 10 of his 22 home room students were at school.

Catholic Education SA said during week 7 (last week), 90 staff and 750 students had Covid-19.

All of its schools remain open, though Cabra Dominican College moved Year 12s to remote learning on Wednesday and Year 11s will do the same on Friday, with students expected to return next Wednesday.

A reception class at St Thomas Goodwood was asked to stay home on Friday, with students getting PCR tests before returning on Monday.

Sacred Heart teacher Dave Higgins - pictured with children Darcy, Jess and Aussie - has been affected by Covid isolation rules, with his daughter and wife both getting Covid and the whole family forced to isolate for 14 days. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Catholic Education SA director Neil McGoran said he was concerned about the burden and anxiety increased case numbers were placing on students and their families “and especially, on our staff”.

Berri Regional Secondary College also closed to year 11 and 12 students for three days this month.

The Australian Education Union said the large number of staff absences among schools was “not sustainable”.

The union said a previous approach to keep schools open regardless of case numbers had come “at the expense of the physical and mental health of educators” who were working into the night as they covered for other staff.

While Premier Peter Malinauskas on Friday morning ruled out shutting down schools a week early before the April holiday break, the union wants the department to declare the entirety of Week 11, beginning on Monday, April 11, as pupil free days.

Education Department chief executive Rick Persse on Thursday said it may be possible to have some student free days towards the end of the term.

But he said the department must balance children’s learning needs with safety and staff’s ability to deliver educational programs.

The Education Department had a pool of 4000 temporary relief teachers to call upon earlier this year, but Mr Persse conceded on Thursday that many had since taken up contracts and

filling all roles was now “challenging”.

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