Queensland return to school accepted by most FNQ parents

Education providers have responded with their plans for fearful parents who are considering holding back their child from returning to school next week.

The majority of Far Northern parents have revealed they would be comfortable sending their kids back to school next week, however some have called out the new requirements, labelling them “criminal”.

All Queensland students are set to return to their classrooms on February 7, following the delayed start to the term as the state approached its Omicron peak.

It means parents will no longer be required to homeschool their kids – an experience some found more difficult than others with reports of relationship breakdowns due to the stress.

However, with Queensland still reporting thousands of daily Covid-19 cases, some Far North parents have expressed concerns towards allowing their kids to return to the mass gatherings of schools.

Stock image of a young girl studying at home during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a Cairns Post poll, 28 per cent of respondents indicated they would not be comfortable with sending their child back to school next week.

The latest Queensland Education statistics showed the average class size was about 21 students. Based on the Cairns Post survey, it would mean up to six students from each class would be held back at home by their parents.

“Not only am I petrified about my kids getting Covid-19 but I am also equally petrified for those that the virus could be passed onto. Remote schooling really needs to happen for at least Term 1,” Rodney Davis said.

“I’m not keen for my at risk child to return to school next week. It wouldn’t kill him for me to home school him,” Eloise Joy Lambourn said.

And although most poll respondents were OK with the return to school, many were unhappy with the mask requirements for high school students, and the recommendation of wearing one for students in Year 3 and above.

“Making a child wear a mask should be a criminal offence,” Tanya Hicks said.

Unfortunately for parents of Far North Catholic Diocese schools, their education providers did not have the relevant accreditation to provide ongoing lessons both physically and remotely.

“In fairness to our teaching staff who may be at reduced numbers as it is, we will not be providing both face-to-face and remote learning. Also, we do not have accreditation from the State Government to provide distance education,” Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns executive director Bill Dixon said.

Although the Queensland Education website did not specifically address the issue of parents withholding their children from school, it did state: “Schools are not required to provide home-based learning options unless there are specific circumstances justifying the student’s absence.”

Originally published as Queensland return to school accepted by most FNQ parents