Queensland students return to school after COVID lockdown

Queensland students spilled through the front gates into classrooms yesterday for the first time since the COVID-19 lockdown began. But some parents still choose to keep their kids at home during the health crisis.

NINETY per cent of Queensland state school students spilt through the front gates into classrooms yesterday, but experts said parents would still choose to keep their kids home during the health crisis.

More than 512,000 state school students returned to school after up to six weeks away from classrooms because of COVID restrictions.

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The number is in line with last year’s average daily attendance of 90.5 per cent at state schools.

Last week, 85 per cent of Preppies, 83 per cent of Year 1 students and 79.6 per cent of Year 11 and 12 students attended classrooms.

Brothers Lucas, 7, and Jake, 11, Barker are happy to finally be back at school together at Cannon Hill Anglican College. Picture: Peter Wallis

But Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and state Education Minister Grace Grace yesterday implored school staff, students and parents to stay home if they were not well.

Ms Grace said it was great to see all the smiling faces as physical classes resumed for all school year levels after most students had been learning from home.

“And the attendance rates show that those parents who can send their children to school, feel comfortable doing so,” she said.

“Once again I want to thank parents, principals, teachers, teacher aides and staff for their work over the past few months to get us back to normal classes this week.”

Cannon Hill Anglican College year 7’s Jemimah Rego and Victoria Seng are welcomed back to school by school captains Navneet Singh and Lachlan Parenti. Picture: Peter Wallis

While all students are expected to return to school, if parents choose to keep their children at home because of COVID-19 fears beyond medical reasons, parents are responsible for their learning at home, according to Department of Education guidelines.

USQ Education expert Tania Leach said parents may still choose to keep their children at home because of family concerns during the health crisis.

“Parents who are in the position are putting the decision of their health first until they can see what plays out,” she said.

“There’s big implications for it because schools won’t provide at-home learning for those students.

“Parents are saying do I take that risk with my children? Do I keep them home and see if community contact cases increase and then I’ve made the decision for the health and wellbeing of my children.”