Big changes for Tasmania’s year 12 students facing final year of school

School has changed massively for Tasmania’s year 12 students amid the coronavirus pandemic, adding to an already stressful year.

NOW in their final year of school, things are looking very different for Tasmania’s year 12 students.

Hutchins student Max Denehey said school had just started to ramp up when the coronavirus pandemic hit the state, with things changing rapidly.

However, despite the upheaval, he said studying online had so far been a positive experience.

“We can still talk to our mates and our teachers can still share their screens, and you can talk to the teacher if you need,” Max said.

“In my eyes it’s not so different, aside from being at home. It hasn’t been so bad.”

Year 12 Hutchins student Max Denehey. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

He said the most challenging part academically had been that he was unable to go straight to teachers to ask for help as he would at school. However, there were teachers available online to whom he could still send his study questions.

“I feel more positive now, with lots of help still, even though I’m still at home,” he said.

Max said he did not have concrete plans for when he completed year 12, but being a keen cricket player he was keen to take a gap year in the UK to play with a club.

“Now it just depends how this [pandemic] ends up,” he said. “After that, I haven’t thought too much about it.”

Max said the most challenging part of studying from home was not seeing his friends.

“At the start of the year you’re with your mates most weekends,” Max said.

“Now being at home and not being able to see them is challenging.

“We still call each other and get on Facetime though. You’ve got to do it.”

With his whole family now working or studying from home, he said it was weird seeing everyone around all the time.

“My brother is in his fifth year of uni and my dad’s working from home, so we’re all at home at the moment,” Max said.

“Mum’s getting sick of us already.”

With the disruptions facing these students, the State Government has been investigating how students might be supported in such unusual circumstances.

Premier Peter Gutwein said though an artificial boost of subject scores was not on the cards, students would now be able to receive a recommendation from their school in order to apply for university study.

Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

“Now we need to be sensible with this. We don’t want people going to university who shouldn’t be,” Mr Gutwein said.

“But at the end of the day, we recognise that there is a significant disruption.

“We know that for many students, it will be particularly stressful and difficult.

“But for those students who are putting a body of work over a number of years and are well known by their teachers then there’s a process in place whereby they can work through that and a recommendation be made.”