Education Union backs Chief Minister message that school is still the best place for kids

Parents are being urged to keep their children in school despite being given permission to withdraw them from the rest of the term.

Parents are being urged to keep their children in school despite being given permission to withdraw them from the rest of the term.

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PARENTS are being urged to keep their children in school despite being given permission to withdraw them from the rest of the term.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced on Monday parents would be given the option to remove their children from school for the remainder of the term, in response to concerns over coronavirus and discussions of closing schools interstate.

“I trust parents to know what is best for them and their kids,” he said.

“If you want to keep kids at home for the remainder of this term – that is OK. But they have to be at home. If they can’t be at home or with you, please send them to school.

“The Education Department will use this time until then to make sure there can be flexible arrangements for students to receive their education – whether that’s at school or at home.”

Australian Education Union NT president Jarvis Ryan said while it was up to parents to decide, school was still the best place for children to be.

“Our view is that Territory schools are still a safe place for kids to go given that we have a very small number of cases of coronavirus and very stringent border controls about to be put in place,” he said.

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Mr Ryan said he was in discussion with the Education Department, Minister Selena Uibo and stakeholders on a plan to provide structure for schools and parents over the next few weeks.

“What I hope is for teachers, for parents and the broader community will get some certainty about schooling and school holidays over the next few weeks in the Territory,” he said.

He said amid closure discussions, there needed to be more consideration for the Territory’s diverse student population.

“I know there are people out there who think all schools should be closed but there are a whole lot of ramifications,” he said.

“We’ve got kids in remote areas particularly who rely on things like school nutrition programs, we have many vulnerable children who are on the radar of Territory Families who rely on school as a safe place.

“We obviously have the broader impact on our workforce if schools close that we have people performing these various essential services, what happens with their kids if schools are closed?”