Strong student, staff turnout in Term 2 school return, despite COVID-19
STUDENT attendance in Territory schools dropped by 17 per cent while 90 per cent of staff showed up for the first day of Term 2 on Monday.
Northern Territory
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STUDENT attendance in Territory schools dropped by 17 per cent while 90 per cent of staff showed up for the first day of Term 2 on Monday.
While parents were able to choose whether to send their kids to school for the last few weeks of Term 1 because of fears surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, the Territory Government made school attendance compulsory for Term 2.
Preliminary data showed a drop in student attendance of 17 per cent compared to Term 2 last year, while teacher attendance remained on par with previous years.
“(A 17 per cent drop) is a tremendous result considering the uncertainty of the COVID-19 impact,” Education Minister Selena Uibo said.
“Pleasingly, 90 per cent of school staff attended work, which is consistent with normal school operational periods and highlights their ongoing dedication to our Territory children.”
Health Minister Natasha Fyles was at a busy Nightcliff Primary School drop off on Monday, where kids were seen streaming through the gates and getting back to classrooms.
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She said that while it was a different landscape to what families were used to, this was the “new normal”, and it was encouraging to see high levels of attendance.
“It’s not the same environment as when parents dropped kids at school only a term ago,” she said.
“Territory parents should be reassured that our community is safe, but if we see an outbreak of coronavirus, our schools are well prepared.”
Nightcliff PS principal Jill Finch said attendance levels were not expected to drop significantly but special provisions had been made for vulnerable students with health conditions to work from home.
There were also new hygiene protocols for kids attending classes.
“There will be some information given to children about washing their hands, making sure they keep safe, and not using the bubblers for drinking,” Ms Finch said.
“School will be as usual, we will be continuing the programs from last term. Some vulnerable children will be staying at home, we will have programs for them.”
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Nightcliff PS parent Anna Goat said the recent stall in new COVID-19 presentations had given her fresh confidence in sending her children back to class.
“I feel very comfortable now, I think a month ago I was very worried about everything, but now I feel it’s much more under control,” she said.
Originally published as Strong student, staff turnout in Term 2 school return, despite COVID-19