Principals, parents ‘anxious’ over school mask rule

A rule on mandatory masks in schools is dividing irate parents and principals who have to enforce the unpopular rule.

Principals are bracing for mask resistance as pupils as young as five will be “strongly recommended” to wear masks when they return to school next week.

Schools will have the power to decide how to monitor mandatory mask wearing for children in years 3 to 6.

All schoolchildren in year 3 and above are required to wear masks indoors at school.

Masks are strongly recommended but not compulsory for children in prep to year 2.

Education Minister James Merlino said on Thursday masks would soon be seen as another part of the uniform.

“That’s how schools will approach it, in a sensitive way, in a commonsense way … I’m really confident schools will do their best,” he said.

Victorian Principals Association president Andrew Dalgleish said principals had contacted the association because they had received feedback from parents about mandatory mask wearing.

All schoolchildren in year 3 and above are required to wear masks indoors at school.

“There are parents saying they don’t want their children to wear a mask, some have provided reasons and medical certificates from doctors,” he said. “We are just waiting for further clarification from the department on what the processes are with those children who don’t comply with the health order.”

A state government principal of more than 20 years said there had been an “orchestrated campaign” against children wearing masks at school.

“Some parents have been quite aggressive and it is quite hard to manage as it is a health directive,” he said.

A primary school science teacher said the mandate would be difficult to enforce.

“If parents and teachers/school staff can teach their children how to wear a mask properly ... we may have a hope. But I’m not very optimistic, given the children I teach,” she said.

VCE EXAMS: CHANGE FOR CLOSE CONTACTS

Changes to VCE rules ­allowing Covid-exposed students to sit exams have failed to stop many schools from halting on-campus learning this week.

It comes as more than 50 schools battled Covid outbreaks, although most are only expected to be closed for 24 hours.

Under the new rules announced on Thursday, close-contact students will be able to sit VCE exams in a separate room supervised by staff in full personal protective equipment. They must be tested every two days.

Fully vaccinated students who are close contacts will only have to isolate for seven days and unvaccinated students for 14 days.

Students with Covid will not be able to sit exams and will get a derived score.

Max (7) and Leo (6) are excited about going back to school when lockdown restrictions ease in Melbourne. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The announcement from Education Minister James Merlino led some schools, including Lauriston, to allow students to return to campus next week in small groups.

But it’s too late for students at many schools, who this week held muck-up days to signal the end of classes.

Muck-up days have been more subdued than in previous years, mostly consisting of early morning drinking sessions and students coming to school in costumes or decorated uniforms.

Other schools have deferred muck-up days until after exams in a bid to reduce the possibility of students catching Covid.

Mr Merlino said schools will take “every precaution to make sure all other VCE students and our hardworking schools staff are kept safe”.

Shadow education spokesman David Hodgett said Covid-positive students should still be able to sit exams. “A derived score should be the last resort for those absolutely unable to sit an exam due to, for example, being hospitalised,” he said.

Caroline Dowling, spokeswoman for the #WhatsThe PlanDan group, said parents wanted “the maximum number of students who can sit exams to sit them, including those with a recent exposure who are low risk”.

The Department of Education has also announced a suite of mental health measures such as therapy dogs to kick in by mid-2022 for regional state schools and 2024 for Melbourne state schools.

Jacquie Blackwell from the Shadow Pandemic Victoria parents’ lobby group welcomed the mental health measures, but said: “Kids need mental health and wellbeing support immediately as they re-engage with schools.”

It comes as primary pupils prepare to return to schools. Claire White, acting principal for St Margaret Mary’s Primary School in Brunswick North, said she was “very much looking forward to our prep students leading the return to school on Monday followed by our juniors later in the week”.