Thousands of Aussie kids at risk of being ‘significantly compromised’ by remote learning
Almost half of Australian students are at risk of having their “learning and wellbeing significantly compromised” by missing large chunks of school due to lockdown restrictions. Here’s how.
Education
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Almost half of Australian students are at risk of having their “learning and wellbeing significantly compromised” by missing large chunks of school.
New research released by the federal Department of Education last night found one in four kids from disadvantaged backgrounds did not have a desk, while 23 per cent did not have a quiet place to work and 27 per cent did not have a dictionary.
“As soon as health restrictions permit, there is an urgent need to reconnect these students to the physical context of school-based learning to support their learning and wellbeing,” the University of Tasmania report says.
A Mitchell Institute report also commissioned by the Morrison Government said internet access issues were “just the tip of the iceberg”, with just 41 per cent of mothers and 44 per cent of fathers in low-income households having completed school themselves.
It also found students with complex needs or from low socio-economic backgrounds would lose about six weeks of numeracy and four weeks of reading learning if distance education
“There are major challenges and the disruption is likely to lead to widening gaps in school learning over what would have occurred had they remained in face-to-face classrooms,” the report said.
A third report found online learning was “especially” harmful to children in early years and in vulnerable groups.
In total, five reports were commissioned by the Federal Government through the Department of Education to better understand the impacts of policies relating to schools through the pandemic.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has repeatedly raised concerns about children missing a year of their education and falling behind.
He took aim at education unions over the weekend, saying that the health risks to teachers – primarily posed by other teachers, and not students – could be managed to allow schools to return.
“We’ve got people who are going to work in supermarkets every day,” he said.
“We’ve got people who are doing jobs all over the community, driving buses, and they’re doing great work and they’re turning up to work to do those things.”
Premier Daniel Andrews is under increasing pressure to follow other states, such as South Australia, by allowing kids to return to the classroom.
The state government has repeatedly said students should remain at home if they can.
But Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton yesterday conceded that he was “open” to allowing schools to return early if infection numbers remained low.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Monday that it was up to states when they lifted restrictions but insisted there was no medical reason for schools to remain closed.
Meanwhile, elite Mornington Peninsula school, Toorak College, has scheduled extra long weekends to stop senior students from racing ahead in their studies.
“They’re absolutely killing it,” principal Kristy Kendall said with the school now more concerned about keeping students at a steady pace than preparing them for end-of-year exams.
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