Coronavirus Australia: Scott Morrison’s plea — send kids back to school

Scott Morrison urges parents to get their children back to class and praises teachers saying we ‘need you more than ever’.

Scott Morrison has turned to social media on Wednesday to urge parents to send their children back to school, saying the education of students “hangs in the balance”.

It comes as Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy pushes for children to return to school, warning state governments are keeping them closed not on health advice but because of the fear of parents and teachers.

In a move aimed at forcing the issue to the top of the national cabinet’s agenda, the Prime Minister says in a video message posted to Facebook: “It’s so important that children are able to keep physically going to school.”

The message coincides with the start of term two in Victoria, with students told to learn from home unless their parents are essential workers. In the video, Mr Morrison reassures parents that attending school is safe, and implores teachers to support his stance.

“During these times, many students will continue distance learning,” Mr Morrison says. “But we know for some families and students this won’t be possible. And their education, what they learn, is at great risk of suffering this year.

“This will particularly be the case for families who are disadvantaged and on lower incomes. These children need our schools to remain open. We cannot allow a situation where parents are forced to choose between putting food on the table through their employment, to support their kids and their kids’ education.”

Mr Morrison underscored the importance of teachers, saying Australia “needs you more than ever.”

The PM has praised teachers saying they are now more important than ever.

“I want teachers to know, from me, as a parent and a Prime Minister, just how appreciated you are and how important the job is that you’re doing and how much you’re doing,” he said.

“At this time, as our nation fights coronavirus, your job has become even more important.”

He said some children from vulnerable backgrounds would not get an education if they were at home. “It’s the sad reality, but we know it’s true and we need to face it. These children need you for our schools to remain open.

“We cannot allow a situation where parents are forced to choose between putting food on the table through their employment to support their kids and their kid’s education.”

His plea follow an ­address by Dr Murphy in which he noted Australia’s key decision-making committee for health emergencies, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, had never recommended closing schools because there was no evidence of transmission ­between children “to any significant extent”.

“We’re concerned our governments are keeping schools closed not from a health recommendation but almost because of parental fear and some reaction in local governments,” he told the New Zealand parliament’s epidemic response committee.