SA schools keeps students home due to staff shortages

Hundreds of teachers in SA schools have been forced into isolation as the latest wave of Covid-19 has an impact on the education system.

More than 350 teachers have been forced into isolation and classes cancelled as the latest wave of Covid-19 cases ravages schools across the state.

Paralowie R-12 School has been one of the hardest hit, with 15 teachers unavailable, and year 11 and 12 students forced to study home on Wednesday.

A worried Paralowie schoolteacher said there was “not enough staff to be able to supervise all the classes” and combining “classes isn’t an option because Covid is going around a lot and they don’t want too many kids in the same room”.

“There’s so many kids who are anxious, like they’re really stressed about it, and a lot of kids are not being supported in the way they should be. If it keeps getting worse, I don’t know how we’re going to be able to stay open,” they said.

The crisis comes despite the Education Department last month creating a pool of 4000 temporary relief teachers (TRTs) on standby to assist staffing issues, in addition to the 1500 retired teachers who have been asked to return to work.

Paralowie R-12 school has been one of the hardest hit. Picture: Dean Martin

Students in year 11 and 12 at Whyalla Secondary College have been forced into remote learning.

Marcel Rijken, principal at Temple Christian College, said his Mile End campus had been battling with staff shortages, and year 7s and all of year 10s had to stay home or away from school for three days.

Total cases on Wednesday rose to 2560 and the number of active or infectious patients is at its highest level of 20,079 for the first time in more than a month. Dancing in public venues and hospitality density are at the top of the agenda for Thursday’s Covid Ready Committee debate on restrictions.

Originally published as SA schools keeps students home due to staff shortages