Victoria’s return to school plan for regional students revealed
Students in country Victoria will return to the classroom as early as next week – but there is ongoing uncertainty for children in Melbourne and some regional areas.
A plan for regional schools to return to face-to-face learning has been unveiled by Education Minister James Merlino.
Mr Merlino said from Monday, October 4, prep to year 2 and students studying final-year subjects would return to the classroom full time, as they did at the end of term 3.
From Wednesday, October 6, year 11 students will return to school.
On Monday, October 11, students in years 3 – 4 and years 8 – 9, will attend school in staggered approach on Tuesday and Wednesday and years 5 – 6 and year 10 will attend school on Thursday and Friday, while year 7s will return five days a week.
From Tuesday, October 26, all students will be back in the classroom full time.
The return to school plan excludes the City of La Trobe and Mitchell Shire, which are currently under stay-at-home restrictions.
Students who live in metropolitan Melbourne but enrolled in a regional school – or vice-versa – will be able to attend onsite learning with their year level. Staff and final year students who are required to cross the metropolitan border to attend school must be double vaccinated, or must get tested twice weekly.
A targeted wastewater detection program will also be in place in some higher-risk regional LGAs, helping to detect any cases within school communities as early as possible.
Masks are strongly encouraged for students as a way to ensure safety and limit the risk of transmission in school settings.
Masks will remain mandatory for all students 12 and older, and all adults, and this will continue to be monitored in light of community transmission rates and changing risks.
Schools have already implemented measures like staggered pick-up and drop-off times, QR code check-ins for any essential visitors, and as much physical distancing as is possible in classrooms – and when students return, will limit mixing among year levels and use large spaces like halls and gyms where possible.
Mr Merlino said: “With lower case numbers and excellent vaccination rates, we’re looking forward to getting regional students back in the classroom as soon as possible in Term Four – but we need all school communities to stay vigilant and follow the COVIDSafe plans to protect these freedoms.”
“Now we’re ready to get all students back to school safely, we’ll make sure every single Victorian child gets the support they need – whether that’s with their schoolwork or their wellbeing.”
Mr Merlino said there was still concern about the potential spread of the virus in regional Victoria.
“In the future if there is another LGA that needs to revert to stay at home conditions, then in that scenario just like in La Trobe City and Mitchell Shire, those schools in local government areas will revert to the timeline for our metropolitan back to school plan,” he said.
The state’s road map set out the dates on which metropolitan students would head back to school, but did not provide certainty for regional students in years 3-11.
However, the road map said the chief health officer would “provide advice” on their return to onsite learning by September 30.
Asked whether the state would confirm those details by the deadline, Health Minister Martin Foley said on Wednesday: “Tomorrow is still another day.”
He added: “I’m confident that the commitments that we’ve made in the road map will all be addressed.”
Associate Professor Caroline Dowling, spokeswoman for the #WhatsThePlanDan parents’ lobby group, said all Victorian students were “desperate” to return to face-to-face learning.
“It would be good to get the schools open as quickly as possible. I don’t have a problem with regional going back ahead of metropolitan because they have lower case numbers and it will be safer for them,” she said.
“It will give regional schools an opportunity to test and trial various procedures and protocols, in order to inform the decisions that are being made in metropolitan Melbourne.”
Education Minister James Merlino said: “We’ve always said we won’t waste a moment getting all Victorian students back to school as soon as it’s safe – and we’ll have more to say about regional Victorian schools very soon.”
“The public health team is looking closely at the coronavirus situation across regional Victoria, and we’ll bring regional students back as soon as possible,” he said.
Horsham College principal Rob Pyers said: “It’s going to be a staggered start, the more students we can have back face-to-face the better, but health and wellbeing is a first and foremost priority.
“We are really aware of how challenging the circumstances are, but the profession as a whole has stepped up with every challenge.”
Victorian opposition education spokesman David Hodgett said: “The opposition is obviously very concerned that there is currently no road map for regional school students in years 3 to 11.
“Our position is that all students should be able to attend school day one, term four, with CovidSafe plans. Such plans include rapid antigen testing, treating schools as bubbles and only closing schools or cohorts within schools when there are cases,” he said.
Deakin University epidemiologist Catherine Bennett said there was a rapid change in case numbers in regional areas.
“If they do continue with the plan for regional Victoria, then I think it means they need to be sticking to these local lockdowns,” she said.
Parents Victoria chief Gail McHardy said: “PV is aware that DET is in the process of liaising with school leaders around supporting schools with ventilation improvements, supporting staff and students aged over 12 to get vaccinated and getting schools ready for general CovidSafe practices for students who will be permitted onsite.”
HOMESCHOOLING SUCKS: OLIVIA’S LOCKDOWN LETTER
Grade 4 student Olivia Vanin was tasked by her teacher to write a lockdown memoir.
The 10-year-old, who attends Eastwood Primary School in Ringwood East, wrote that “homeschooling sucks”, and that she is desperate to go back to school next term.
Originally published as Victoria’s return to school plan for regional students revealed
Join the conversation
‘We would’ve lost it forever’
When Neerim parents discovered their local school faced permanent closure, the community made a plan for it to reopen.
Read more
Loreto College student tops state in VCE ag
The opportunity to get outside of the classroom and visit farms and nurseries helped Arna Howard achieve a top score in her VCE ag exam. See the honour roll.
Read more