Equity in education to remain despite COVID-19 disruptions, Education Minister says

The State Government says it is committed to making sure “no child is left behind” when classes at the kitchen table resume for the vast majority of Tasmanian students on Tuesday.

THE government is determined to ensure students receive the best education possible, despite disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff says.

Government schools reopen on Tuesday. Term two runs from April 28 to July 3, but for the vast majority of Tasmanian students that will mean classes at the kitchen table, their lessons being supervised by mum or dad.

Schools will be open, but parents are being encouraged to keep their children home if they can, to help with social distancing measures intended to contain COVID-19.

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Mr Rockliff said attendance rates at Tasmanian Government schools fell below 10 per cent at the end of term one, but slightly more students were expected to return on Tuesday.

But no matter where they were, no student would miss out on an education, he said.

“We’ve worked really hard at building equity into the education system, and we really want to make sure that’s maintained through these times and that no child is left behind.

“For those of our students who are unable to be supervised at home, then school sites remain open.

“There’s been a lot of work done over the last month and more to make sure both online and offline provision is made available.”

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Mr Rockliff said that while the present expectation was for most students to stay away from school during term two, that decision would be kept under review.

“We have made the call. This is what the entirety of term two will look like,” he said.

“That will be reviewed along with the public health advice on an ongoing basis.

“If there will be a point in term two, and I hope we do reach that point, where we can return to normality … that will be based on public health advice.”

The minister praised teachers for their work in making the transition to remote learning for students. And he said teachers would work with parents to make sure students did not miss out on an education.

“For those who are learning at home, they will be provided with tasks by their teachers. We’re not expecting parents to be experts.”

Attendance and participation will still be monitored, and among the new initiatives is an app to help monitor the wellbeing of students away from the classroom.

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Mr Rockliff said the key to success for parents was in part in establishing a routine that was conducive to learning.

“We’ve made every effort to ensure that what kids are learning on the school site is as close as possible to what children are learning in the home environment,” he said.

“It’s about ensuring the environment is comfortable and safe and that there’s regular breaks and meal breaks and making sure there is as much as possible a daily routine around learning and exercise and normality around sleep and rest.”

Information for parents is available via the Education Department website and via telephone [phone].