Glenwood State School teachers walk out ahead of Covid mandate

With two weeks to go until the vaccine mandate takes effect across Queensland, a Queensland school reportedly lost almost all of its teachers one week before the school year ended.

Four Glenwood State School teachers have reportedly taken leave from their jobs in a shock move a week before the school year ends.

It comes as the Queensland Government announced on November 30 the vaccine mandate would be extended to include workers at schools and other high-risk settings, who must have their first Covid vaccine by December 17.

Both doses are required by January 23, the day before students return to school for 2022.

Anyone working in the education sector who is unvaccinated by January 23 will likely be suspended pending a show cause process.

Glenwood State School declined to comment on the situation on Thursday, and directed inquiries to the Queensland Department of Education.

A Qld Ed spokesperson said the school had made arrangements to ensure all students learning would not be impacted by the upcoming mandate.

Glenwood mother Marie Shing, whose 12-year-old daughter Abby Waters is about to complete Year six at the school, claimed she heard the news through another parent, which was later confirmed by one of the teachers who left.

“All four of them have agreed that they’re standing up for their rights,” she said.

Miss Shing claimed Prep and Year 1 teacher, the Year 2 and 3 teacher, the Year 3 and 4 and Year 5 and 6 teacher at Glenwood had all gone on leave.

The Gympie Times reached out to one of the teachers for comment.

Marie Shing said she was yet to be notified of the teaching situation by Glenwood State School.,

“I don’t think they’re coming back next year,” Miss Shing said.

She could not confirm if all teachers at the school had walked out but said five teacher aides and the specialist teachers remained.

She said most parents at the school supported the move, though the school was yet to make an official announcement.

“I’ve told them the community is proud of them and we stand behind them,” she said.

A Queensland Teachers Union media statement from November 30 said anyone who had not received their second dose by January 23 would likely be suspended by the Education Department pending a show cause process.

“We have advised the department that this could result in significant disruption to the commencement of the 2022 school year given students are due to return to schools the following day,” they said.

“Members working conditions should not be compromised in the absence of sufficient teaching staff due to the mandate.”

A QTU spokesperson told The Gympie Times on Thursday any member of the union experiencing “hardship” was encouraged to reach out to the union.

The Queensland state school year will conclude on Friday, December 10.

As of November 29, 70.4 per cent of Gympie’s population over the age of 15 was fully vaccinated, placing Gympie as the least vaccinated local government area in Wide Bay and well below the state level of nearly 80 per cent.

New restrictions against the unvaccinated community are expected to come into effect as of December 17.