Parents call out shambolic vaccine rollout for VCE students

Chaos surrounded the return to campus for some VCE students doing practical subjects, after a last-minute order for them to stay home.

Victoria still has no plan on how to prioritise VCE students for Pfizer vaccinations, just five weeks before the exams.

Parents’ lobby group #VCEWhatsThePlanDan are calling for after-hours vaccination sites and more availability at GP clinics for students.

Health Minister Martin Foley said there had been a “strong turnout of 16 and aboves” to get vaccinated but first dose bookings at state-run hubs were currently full.

Despite last week announcing VCE students should have at least one dose before exams, the government has not said how they will be prioritised.

Mr Foley said there was “work under way between education, health and the wider education community”. He blamed a lack of Pfizer supply, saying the state could only give out doses supplied by the Commonwealth.

“As soon as it is safe to do so and as soon as vaccination ­provisions allow for the exams and other arrangements, we want to return, not just VCE students, but all students,” he said.

“When we have more to say about that we certainly will.”

Many students are stressed about a lack of clarity around exam conditions.

The #VCEWhatsThePlanDan group, part of the Vic Shadow Pandemic movement, said delays in vaccination and a lack of guidance around exam conditions were causing unnecessary stress to teens.

Spokeswoman, Associate Professor Caroline Dowling said the “clock is ticking for these students, who are ­grappling with significant ­anxiety caused by extended lockdowns, lack of contact with friends and ­teachers, and uncertainty around their education and ­futures.”

The group is also calling for a shortening of the Pfizer vaccine gap from six to three weeks, and a workable plan for examinations.

“With the exams just weeks away, you would expect authorities to be well-advanced in considering and addressing risks. We are simply asking, what’s the plan Dan?,” Professor Dowling said.

Opposition Education spokesman David Hodgett said all students deserved an equal opportunity for face-to-face learning.

“We wouldn’t even be having this conversation if all teachers had been priority vaccinated when we called for it back in June this year,” he said.

Chaos surrounded the return to campus for VCE students doing practical subjects, thanks to a last-minute order for them to stay home.

The year 12 students were originally told they could come back to school but the VVCAA said on Sunday only performing arts students doing subjects like dance, drama and theatre performance could return.

Other practical students doing subjects such as visual communication, hospitality and studio arts, could not come on site this week and no date has been set for them to do so. The performing arts students have been prioritised because their exams start on October 4.

Students were further confused by rules that state that it’s preferred they have a Covid test before coming back to school. However, evidence of a negative test is not required before assessment, but must be provided to the school if requested.

The VCAA website also notes that the GAT – the General Achievement Test - which is scheduled for September 9 from 10.00am – 1.15pm is “subject to public health advice and epidemiological conditions”.

The VCAA also released more information about its Consideration of Educational Disadvantage available to all students.

Students will be asked to submit a student statement and tick boxes about how they have been affected. But the VCAA has warned that “the number of boxes ticked does not equate to a change in study score.”

“Rather, this information will complement what the school already knows about students, for example previous assessment scores,” the VCAA said.