Tasmanian teachers prepare for online delivery of education, but schools will not be shut down

Many students will be educated from home next term, but the Government plans to keep school sites open to support children whose parents are engaged in essential work during the coronavirus pandemic.

THE upcoming holiday period in Tasmanian public schools has been brought forward as the State Government moves to implement mostly online delivery of education in term two.

First term will finish four days early, on April 6, with teachers and support staff using the student-free days to prepare for the rollout of home learning due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But the Government has not announced a complete shutdown of public schools despite pressure from Opposition parties to do so to slow the spread of the virus.

The decision to keep school sites open is to provide a place for children of parents conducting essential work, such as health care, emergency and supermarket workers.

And the measure is also understood to cater for children from disadvantaged families, where the home is not considered suitable for them to be educated remotely.

It comes as a number of Tasmanian private schools move to transition to online learning.

Hobart’s St Michael’s Collegiate and The Friends’ School and Scotch Oakburn College in Launceston are among those making the switch.

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff and Premier Peter Gutwein. RICHARD JUPE

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said expert health advice was that schools remain safe for staff and students to attend.

But Mr Rockliff said it was important the system was prepared to support children to learn at home if sites have to close in the future.

“It is important that we continue to offer learning on school sites for as long as the health advice is that they are safe to stay open,’’ he said.

“While attendance figures are declining, Tasmanian Government schools will continue to be open next week for students who are unable to learn at home.”

Many parents are already keeping their children home from school as normal absence rules were set aside by the Government amid the coronavirus crisis.

Student attendance rates in Tasmanian public schools has fallen to 58 per cent.

The Australian Education Union welcomed the Government’s announcement, but called for school holidays to be brought forward further to start next week and give teachers more time to prepare.

“It’s some recognition by Peter Gutwein of teacher health and preparation concerns but it’s not enough soon enough and we note there is nothing in his Government’s announcement for TAFE,” AEU Tasmanian president Helen Richardson said.

“Premier Gutwein needs to apply the leadership he showed in shutting Tasmania’s borders early to our schools – moving to student-free days from Monday, before it’s too late.”

Australian Education Union Tasmania branch president Helen Richardson. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Ms Richardson said social distancing and hygiene requirements were problematic in crowded classrooms.

Labor and the Greens have called for Tasmanian schools to be closed, saying the state had to move decisively to contain the spread of the virus.

Tasmanian Association of State School Organisations president Nigel Jones said on Monday the state was trailing other jurisdictions in showing leadership on school closures.

Mr Rockliff said at this stage, it was expected school sites would open at the start of term two on April 27.

But those plans would be abandoned if national health advice on the safety of keeping schools open changed.