NSW schools: Date for teacher’s booster mandate not set as masks removed from classrooms

Teachers remain in the dark on when they will be required to have a Covid booster, as mask mandates are set to be scrapped from NSW classrooms.

The State Government is yet to enforce a promised vaccination mandate on teachers in NSW.

It comes as mask requirements will be lifted for high school students and staff across the state from February 28, while masks will also be scrapped for primary school students from March 7.

Representatives for Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said a date had not been set for vaccination booster mandates to be introduced as part of a new Public Health Order, despite teachers and school staff being issued notification on January 10 that boosters would be mandated.

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell. Picture Gaye Gerard / NCA Newswire.

On Thursday, NewsLocal reported the Education Minister had told the Upper House the department was awaiting the approval of a new public health order to mandate booster doses by Health Minister Brad Hazzard.

At the time, Mr Hazzard said an assessment of proposed changes to the public health orders to mandate boosters for school staff would be completed shortly — stopping short of issuing a date for mandates to be enforced.

Premier Dominic Perrottet described the relaxation of some measures in classrooms as “sensible”.

High school students will no longer need to wear masks at school from February 28

“It is time to afford our students and parents more normality,” he said.

“Everyone wants to get back to the school activities and events we all love.”

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said relaxing cohorting and restrictions on visitors would allow parents engage with their child’s school and “allow students to participate in cross-year group activities”.

“The return to school, and now the return to school life, is successful because of the tremendous efforts and teamwork from all parents, staff and students.

“I thank all of our school communities for their support.”

St Pauls Anglican School students Kadey Bretherton, Sameel Deoji and Gabby Munt on the first day of wearing masks to school. PICTURE: Brad Fleet

From February 28, cohorting requirements and activity restrictions will be relaxed across NSW schools, allowing students to interact across classes and year groups.

Schools will be able to welcome more visitors onto school grounds, including parents, while activities such as assemblies and school camps will also resume.