Qld schools at ‘breaking point’ as Covid crunch hits

Stressed Queensland teachers say they are just “keeping our heads above water” as Covid continues to ravage schools just days before the end of Term 1.

Schools are scrambling to cram assessments, report writing and parent teacher interviews into the final days of a highly-disrupted term, with some teachers claiming to be near “breaking point”.

With just a few days remaining before the Easter holidays begin, Covid-19 cases among students and teachers continue to cause havoc at a large number of schools across the state.

Principals have reported being forced to merge classes, with some kids spending their final days of term learning in packs as large as 70 students as schools struggle to find enough staff to run standard classes.

One school principal told The Courier-Mail the focus was “keeping our head above water”, with the end of Term 1 – which was delayed by two weeks to allow for the Omicron wave to pass – finally in sight.

“Basically we are just dealing with what we can these past weeks – things like Covid can’t be controlled,” he said.

“The big issue will be with the number of teachers feeling burnt out, I’m not sure if a two-week break is going to solve (the issues).”

Meanwhile a Brisbane high school teacher said she and her colleagues felt “near breaking point”, with the past few weeks spent regularly working through their spare class periods to cover gaps for other staff.

Students in masks arrive at Brisbane State High School.

She also said some were being made to feel guilty for taking time off sick, with shouting and incidents of teachers crying common.

“It’s an incredibly tough time, and we’re not feeling a lot of support from above,” she said.

Covid-19 cases have surged in Queensland over the past few weeks, with a number of private schools implementing mask mandates to slow the spread.

A Department of Education spokeswoman said the “health and wellbeing of students and staff is the department’s highest priority”.

She said Queensland state schools had the “flexibility to modify their curriculum programs”, to ensure student learning was not negatively impacted by the disruptions.

“Importantly, principals have the discretion to adjust curriculum programs to manage the workload and wellbeing of teachers and students,” she said.

“As they always do, teachers will use their professional judgment to support student learning.

“A common sense, compassionate approach will be applied in cases where learning has been severely impacted.

But LNP education spokesman Christian Rowan said teachers and staff had been “let down” by the state government, pointing to “confused, chaotic mixed messages” with regards to the delayed start to school and schools closures during the flood disaster.

“Queensland teachers and school staff are to be commended for their hard work and dedication through what has been an incredibly disruptive and at times chaotic start to the school year,” Dr Rowan said.

“The government must ensure comprehensive strategies are implemented in order to support the physical and mental health of teachers and school staff, so that school curriculum and assessments can be delivered and students can thrive.”