Catholic Education Tasmania stance on schools slammed by union

The Independent Education Union has hit out at Catholic Education Tasmania for welcoming students back to its school sites.

CATHOLIC Education Tasmania’s stance on schooling amid the pandemic has been slammed by the state’s independent schools union.

Following a letter from the principal of St Mary’s College raising concerns over some parents’ motives for not keeping their children home, Catholic Education Tasmania director Gerard Gaskin said any student coming to their schools or colleges amid the crisis would be accepted without question.

However, the Independent Education Union Tasmania said by encouraging parents to send their children to school, the organisation undermined the Tasmanian strategy for containing the spread of coronavirus, compromised the ability of schools and teachers to deliver quality remote learning, and could put the health and safety of staff, students, and teachers at risk.

State Government officials have continued to urge the state’s parents to keep their children at home where possible, with these rules expected to be in place until the end of term two.

Dr Gaskin said however that Catholic Education Tasmania had never restricted the return of any student to its school sites, regardless of whether their parents or carers were essential workers or not.

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“We will not pass judgment on parents and carers or their reasons for sending their children to school. If our sites are open, students are welcome,” he said.

“I wish to give my personal assurance to every parent and carer of every student in our schools and colleges: Your decision to send your child back to school, for whatever reason, will be accepted without question.”

IEU general secretary Deb James said schools, teachers, and staff had done an extraordinary job moving to remote learning, and were safely delivering high quality education to students across the state.

“This can only be effective while it is the key focus of schools – moving to a split mode of delivery will make the work of teachers impossible and undermine education for all our students,” she said.

The union said it acknowledged the need to provide safe supervision for vulnerable children and children of essential workers, however strongly encouraged all parents to follow state government advice and keep their children home when possible.