Return kids to classrooms, says Victorian Opposition leader Michael O'Brien
The push is on for children to return to classrooms immediately with the Victorian Opposition warning students and parents were suffering under the state’s strict remote learning rule.
Education
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The push is on for Victorian students to return to classrooms immediately with the Opposition calling on the State Government to reopen campuses to all children.
Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien has demanded Premier Daniel Andrews follow the national advice and allow children to return to their classrooms from Monday.
“All the expert evidence says that schools are safe and that students can attend school,” Mr O’Brien said.
“With this week coming up we are seeing a lot of other states returning to school and we want Victorian students to have that opportunity.
“We can’t keep learning from home indefinitely.”
Mr O’Brien said additional safeguards should be put in place and also supported parents who chose not send their children back to campus.
But in a blistering response Victorian Education Minister James Merlino posted on Twitter saying he would not be swayed by the federal government’s push for schools to open.
“Let me be very clear, particularly to the federal government who do not run any schools, we will only transition back to face-to-face teaching for all students when that is the advice of the Victorian Chief Health Officer,” he said.
“Not a moment before.
“The vast majority of students in Vic are learning from home because that is the advice from our health experts.
“If we did not follow this advice, more than 1 million children, their parents and school staff congregating at schools could spread coronavirus in our community.”
It comes as Australian data shows kids have not been spreading the virus and only 2.4 per cent of infected patients in Australia have been children.
Currently Victoria has the strictest regime in the country with more than 97 per cent getting their education online during Term 2.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said “my advice hasn’t changed but I always do say my decision is on a day-to-day basis.”
When asked how many children had tested positive in Victoria Mr Sutton admitted the “number was small” although many children tended to have milder symptoms.
“I’ve been very clear I don’t see schools as a dangerous place to be,” Mr Sutton said.
“This is about suppressing transmission”.
Mr O’Brien said the decision to keep schools closed would have long-term impacts – particularly on students in higher grades.
He also raised concerns about essential workers being blocked from sending their children to school, forcing them to take leave without pay.
Among those parents rejected for on-campus learning in Victoria are tram drivers and hospitality workers.
Opposition spokeswoman Emma Kealy also warned women were experiencing added stress from remote learning.
“This is a gendered issue,” she said.
Despite calling for schools to reopen Mr O’Brien said social distancing was still imperative.
He proposed extra safety measures such as barring parents from the schoolyard, staggering drop-offs, pick-ups and lunch breaks and more cleaning at educational facilities.
However, he said the return to normal multi-school sports events and excursions should be delayed for now.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has previously declared schools safe and urged for educators “to move back to normal as quickly as possible”.
Despite the call, Victorian campuses remain closed to the majority of students with only the children of frontline workers and vulnerable kids allowed to attend.
This week Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton agreed the opening of schools before the end of the term was looking more likely as cases decline.
He flagged the end of the state of emergency on May 11 would be “a point of review”.
PARENTS DIVDED OVER RETURN
Parents have reported to the Herald Sun mixed views on restarting classes.
Some fear their children are being deprived of a proper education or report stressful home life with kids struggling to learn online.
Others report not wanting to send their kids back to school until the COVID-19 threat has truly passed.
Australian Education Union state president Meredith Peace has previously said teachers were “as keen as anyone to return to normal life, including a return to school”
“We must plan that return carefully to ensure the safety of both staff and students,” she said.
Karl and Judith David are among the parents struggling with the proposition of remote learning in the past few weeks.
“The school holidays are really tough with the kids stuck at home,” Mr David said.
“But Judith and I are essential workers and we are fortunate to have our kids go to school.
“But it is difficult.
“Every week we have to send a note to the school explaining it’s really impossible for us to stay at home and do our jobs.”
Ms David said if her children were not allowed to learn on campus she would be forced to stop work.
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