Mums and dads ‘scared’ of kids catching Covid at school

A new survey has found the majority of parents back a change to school plans as Covid remains rife in the community, with more than two-thirds saying they do not think kids should be going back to school as planned. HAVE YOUR SAY IN OUR POLL

Parents are scared of their kids catching Covid while in class, with the majority of mums and dads backing a change to return-to-school plans, a new national survey has found.

More than two-thirds of the 3000 people who took part in The Parenthood’s return to school survey said they did not think kids should be going back to school as planned as Omicron remained rife in vast swathes of the country.

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The survey, released on Friday, also found just 20 per cent of respondents said schools should be returning as normal.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced earlier this month that Sunshine State kids would not take part in face-to-face learning until February 7, two weeks later than scheduled.

Queensland schools will recommence two weeks later than scheduled. Picture: iStock

“There is a consensus among a significant majority of Australian parents that returning to school in the current circumstances is not yet safe for children,” The Parenthood’s executive director Georgie Dent said.

“In the weeks since the 2021 school year ended the Covid picture around the country has changed dramatically.”

Despite concerns from some health experts about the impact a delayed return-to-school would have on children, the majority of parents (62 per cent) were more concerned about the health risk of them catching Covid.

The delay has also been backed by the state’s key teachers’ unions.

Ms Dent said such a large number of parents not feeling school was a safe place to send their child was a “considerable problem”.

“Having spent almost two years heeding the strict message that keeping kids home was the best way to keep them, and others, safe from this virus it is not surprising that against a backdrop of surging vases parents aren’t feeling confident or certain that returning as planned makes sense,” she said.

Originally published as Mums and dads ‘scared’ of kids catching Covid at school