How Victorian schools could stay open in future outbreaks

Remote learning could be a thing of the past if the state government adopted a “more nuanced” approach to keeping schools open in outbreaks, experts say. Here’s how it would work.

School students of all ages wearing masks, smaller class sizes and better ventilation could potentially allow schools to stay open during future lockdowns, paediatricians say.

The return to classroom teaching for more than 200,000 students who have lost six months of face-to-face learning in Victoria over the past year has led to renewed calls for schools to stay open where possible throughout new outbreaks.

Professor Sharon Goldfeld and Associate Professor Margie Danchin from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute say a comprehensive plan is needed with input from public health experts, educators and the state government.

“Delta is a game changer. We know from the North Melbourne Primary School that once there is a case at the school it can spread quite quickly and is much more transmissible than earlier variants,” Associate Professor Danchin said.

“So, we need a more nuanced and thoughtful approach that offers a range of mitigation strategies to keep schools, especially primary schools, open given the greater infectivity of the Delta variant.”

Mum Michaela Fox with her daughters Amber, 12, Jasmine, 10, Holly, 9, and India, 4. Picture: Mark Stewart

The girls have been doing remote learning during Victoria’s fifth lockdown. Picture: Mark Stewart

Strategies include reducing class sizes, staggering lunchtimes, kids wearing masks, even in primary schools, cancellation of extra-curricular school events when there is community transmission, click and collect drop-offs and pick-ups to reduce parents coming on to school grounds, vaccination for teachers and a strong focus on better ventilation in school buildings.

The call comes as eleven schools have been affected by the current Victorian outbreak, including two major transmission sites at Bacchus Marsh Grammar (around 16 cases) and Trinity Grammar (around 25 cases).

Professor Goldfeld said there “will be some times when “it’s just not possible to keep schools open, but it should be an active decision based on data and planning”.

She said the approach in each case should take into account the geographic location of schools, the level of community transmission, sewage data and vaccination rates.

“It depends on what’s happening in the community – if there are no cases then we can have schools running camps and other events,” she said.

Professor Goldfeld said closing down schools was “not good for children’s mental health or learning.

“This is the only way forward. We have to think about what works for Victoria given that kids have missed so much school,” she said.

Andrew Neal, principal of Bacchus Marsh Grammar, said it was “pure bad luck that a member of the school’s staff was infected at a football match”.

His school’s experience reflects the fast transmission rates of the Delta virus, with a positive staff member case on Wednesday, July 14, followed by the next positive result the following day.

Within a week or more, seven staff, four students and about five household members caught the virus.

“There are a range of people who have been very ill and we are hoping they are getting better,” Mr Neal said.

Victorian school students will return to the classroom from Wednesday.

“Two staff members are in hospital. Others have mild flu symptoms, like a heavy cold – there’s no one who’s positive without symptoms.”

Despite other schools reopening this week, Mr Neal said his school would not open until next Monday.

“We have been quite vigilant to date and will take whatever advice given to change practices,” Mr Neal said.

“We want to get back to normal as quickly as possible”

Mr Neal said teachers needed to be vaccinated “as a priority other than age”.

“If you are a 40-year-old sitting in front of 30 different children six times a day, we know you are more at risk from these variants,” he said.

Mask-wearing for school students of all ages could be a key step in ensuring schools stay open during outbreaks.

Associate Professor Danchin said vaccinating teachers and childcare workers to protect them should be a priority, along with older teens living with vulnerable families or with chronic disease or disability to ensure they are safe.

Mr Neal said schools like his would make any changes necessary.

“We have a generation of kids starting to miss out on vital parts of their education and we need to get back to normal as quickly as possible,” he said.

Education Minister James Merlino welcomed the return to campus-based schooling. “I know that lockdowns can be incredibly tough – both on students’ learning and their mental health – so while we’re thrilled to get kids back into classrooms, we won’t stop providing the support they need to succeed through the rest of 2021,” he said.

Parents Victoria CEO Gail McHardy said Victorian public school parents were feeling relieved.

“Congratulations to all those in the education community they’ve done our state proud,” she said.

Catholic Education Melbourne executive director Jim Miles said schools would work to identify any students who may have fallen behind and tutor support programs would continue.

“We cannot be complacent and the safety of staff and students is our highest priority,” he said.

Michelle Green, chief executive of Independent Schools Victoria, said the return of campus-based learning was “ welcome news for teachers, students and parents”.

“The most-recent lockdown came amid particular strains on a number of Independent schools, where COVID-19 outbreaks added to the pressure on thousands of students, parents and teachers,” she said.