Coronavirus Queensland: Schools to reopen for term 2, 7 new cases overnight

Schools will reopen for the children of essential workers for the beginning of Term 2 in Queensland as the state recorded only seven new coronavirus cases overnight.

SCHOOLS will reopen for the beginning of Term 2 in Queensland for children of essential workers only as the state recorded only seven new coronavirus cases overnight.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk today confirmed schools will be open for the beginning of Term 2 but only for children of essential workers with the rest of the student population to learn at home for the first five weeks.

The move to a home-based learning model starts on Monday April 20 and will be in place until at least Friday May 22 when it would be reviewed.

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This means for five weeks of Term 2, there will be remote learning for many families until the decision is reassessed.

Ms Palaszczuk said this was not a decision the Government arrived at lightly.

“This decision provides mums and dads with the clarity they need ahead of the new school term.“It also gives certainty for our hard-working teachers who will be continuing to deliver lessons in a way they might never have imagined.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk gives an update on the coronavirus situation in Queensland. Picture: Richard Walker

School staff, unless they are vulnerable due to medical conditions, will continue to teach from the classroom to ensure continuity of learning.

Education Minister Grace Grace said the primary point of contact would be teachers and teacher aides.

“Although most students will be absent, staff will still be on site and we are continuing to work with suppliers to bulk purchase cleaning and hygiene supplies to support schools,” she said.

Ms Grace said parents would have a new role, conceding it would not be easy.

Teaching staff including those working in boarding schools will also be able to be tested for COVID-19 if they’re showing symptoms.

Minister for Education Grace Grace. Picture: Richard Walker

Ms Grace said the government had worked with Telstra to secure more than 5000 SIM cards to allow students without internet to access online resources.

“We want to make sure that students aren’t disadvantaged, we’re going to ensure as much as we can that students have the availability to have devices, either from schools or to be able to have them leant or borrowed to them,” she said.

Queensland’s Catholic schools say they will adopt the Term 2 arrangements announced by the Premier with Queensland Catholic Education Commission executive director Dr Lee-Anne Perry saying Catholic schools had spent many weeks preparing for the possibility that Term 2 would involve most students learning at home.

“Catholic schools are ready to support students in their learning and also to support families as they tackle a new way of educating their children,” she said.

“Children of essential workers and vulnerable children will be able to attend their Catholic school in line with the arrangements at state schools.

“We are pleased the Premier and Education Minister have announced the arrangements for a five-week block, so schools, families and students have some certainty in the weeks ahead.”

Queensland recorded only seven new coronavirus cases overnight taking the state total to 987.

Ms Palaszczuk thanked Queenslanders for their huge efforts over the Easter weekend where most abided by the ‘stay home’ message.

This means there were 35 new cases over the Easter long weekend.

Police issued 496 $1,334 fines for breaching social distancing measures.