Absenteeism doubles as kids pulled from school due to coronavirus pandemic

The rate of student absenteeism in Tasmanian schools has surged as fears grow about the coronavirus pandemic.

ABSENTEEISM in the state’s school system has doubled as parents keep pull their children from class over coronavirus fears.

Education Department figures reveal that the average number of students missing from Tasmanian schools reached 20 per cent this week — twice the figure for the same time last year.

Premier Peter Gutwein said there was no reason for parents to keep students at home.

“I urge parents to work with the schools. They will be one of the safest environments that children can enter, if well managed, if hygiene measures are taken into account, and if social distancing measures are taken into account,” he told Parliament.

“The advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee is that there is no reason to close schools at this time.”

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Australian Education Union state president Helen Richardson said getting young children to obey social distancing rules was not a reasonable expectation.

“Schools have been told to implement measures such as a 1.5 metre distance between people which is impossible for students in crowded classrooms,” she said.

“The Government’s directions are even more impossible to manage on wet days when students are forced inside for the whole day.

“Schools need advice that is clear, specific and viable for their workplace to reassure them it is safe for students and teachers.

“There’s also a lack of supplies, resources and staff for enhanced cleaning measures.

“The Government must ensure that its Work Health and Safety obligations to all staff and students are met.”

Labor leader Rebecca White.

Labor leader Rebecca White said basic supplies were running out in some schools.

“We’re hearing from teachers that they’re very concerned about the lack of a soap and sanitisers that are available for them and for students,” Ms White said.

She said parents needed as much advance notice of government plans for schools as possible.

“We’ve continued to ask the Government to explain if they are considering closing schools, and if they are planning for that, to communicate that soon to parents so they can make appropriate plans for alternative care arrangements for their children, for work arrangements so that people aren’t left in a chaotic situation if a decision is made one day to close the schools the next day.”

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation state secretary Emily Shepherd said school closures and assertive social distancing would help the health system deal with the pandemic in a more controlled way.

“While the children themselves may not become very unwell, they will potentially be asymptomatic and spread the virus to their families and vulnerable family members,” she said.