On Return to School …

Media release – Peter Gutwein, Premier, 20 January 2022

COVID Safety in Schools Plan released

There is no doubt that the best place for our children to be when school returns is in school, which is supported by public health advice that it is safe to go back to school.

As part of our transition to live with COVID-19, the Tasmanian Government’s COVID Safety in Schools Plan will ensure our schools are prepared and safe ahead of the return to school on February 9.

It is completely understandable that parents may be feeling anxious ahead of school’s return, but our Plan will ensure that schools can open as planned and that students, parents, and teachers have as much continuity and consistency as possible as we work through this period.

Importantly, the Plan includes a number of measures to ensure COVID-Safety in our schools, in line with public health advice.

These measures will initially be in place for the first five weeks of Term 1, with any initial adjustments to be made towards the end of this period.

Importantly, continuity of learning will be prioritised. Students in schools, early learning centres and child care settings will not be defined as close contacts unless there are five or more cases in a single classroom within a seven day period.

If a positive case is detected, schools will notify parents and carers that a case has been detected in the classroom, and to monitor for symptoms.

All students should be at school unless they are unwell or have symptoms of COVID, or have medical advice that they shouldn’t attend.

Students with a disability, or who are medically vulnerable, will continue to be supported on an individual basis, in line with each student’s medical action plan. Schools will reach out to parents or carers prior to school returning to discuss their child’s individual plan prior to the return to school.

While vaccinations for children are not mandatory, it is strongly encouraged, and there are bookings available for every child between 5-11 years old to receive their first dose before school returns.

Specific measures in our plan include:

For educators and schools:

• Access to 1.6 million masks and 1.5 million Rapid Antigen Tests, with supply to be replaced as required;
• Each school will be provided Rapid Antigen Tests and masks for teachers to use, and masks must be worn when teaching indoors. This will also apply to Early Learning and Child Care Centre staff;
• Windows are being adjusted for improved ventilation, and 4500 air purifiers will be supplied to classrooms and learning areas where required before the start of the school year;
• Additional school cleaning will be undertaken, in line with public health advice;
• Outdoor learning spaces to be used where practical, and breaks to be staggered where required to reduce the density of children in play areas; and
• If teachers or any staff are required to quarantine, they will continue to be paid under COVID leave arrangements.

For children and students:

• Parents will receive a Back to School COVID Care Package, with detailed information and two Rapid Antigen Tests, per child, to have for use if your child becomes symptomatic and requires a test;
• Schools will also be provided with a further two tests for every student per week to take home to test if required due to being symptomatic;
• Virtual learning will be available for students required to isolate;
• Masks are only to be worn indoors for students in secondary school, with all schools to have a supply of masks if the student does not have their own; and
• Masks are not required for primary school students or for children in early learning  or child care settings. However, primary school students can choose to wear a mask and schools will have a supply to provide if required.

Additionally, should a parent be required to isolate or quarantine with their children, financial assistance is available.

You can receive up to $750 from Services Australia or the State Government pandemic isolation grant of $750.

I know that parents might be feeling anxious, which is perfectly understandable, but the message is clear – the best place for our children to be when school returns is in school, and our schools are prepared and safe.

We will continue to keep Tasmanians informed at every step as we work through this transition phase and learn to live with COVID-19

Further information on the COVID Safety in Schools Plan can be found here: https://www.education.tas.gov.au/2022/01/return-to-school-plan-announced/.

Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing and Acting Minister for Education, 22 January 2022

Talking to your child about COVID-19

We know that to achieve the best possible education and health and wellbeing outcomes, every day that students are at school learning with their friends and teachers, counts.

Our Return to Schools Plan will ensure our schools are prepared and safe ahead of the return to school on 9 February.

Understandably, we do know that there is a level of anxiety in the community about the return to school.

Our number one priority will always be the safety and wellbeing of children in our schools.

Sometimes it can be difficult to talk to your child about things that may be concerning to them, knowing how to approach these conversations and knowing what to say isn’t always easy.

To help parents talk to their child about COVID-19 and the return to school, an Information Sheet has been developed by the Department of Education that provides handy tips for parents to talk to their Child about COVID-19.

Talking to kids about COVID:

• Open the discussion
• Answer questions simply and truthfully.
• Take your cues from your child by encouraging questions.
• Stay calm and answer your child’s questions
• Be reassuring.
• Focus on what you’re doing to stay safe.
• Stick to routines as a way to stay grounded.
• Keep talking to your children especially as things change.

Further information about our Return to Schools Plan can be found at COVID-19 – The Department of Education Tasmania.

Media release – Elise Archer, acting Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, 25 January 2022

Delivering safe school buses when school resumes

Tasmanians can rest assured that contingencies are in place to allow for safe school bus travel when students start heading back to school.

Additional cleaning of all dedicated school buses will take place with a focus on high-contact areas.

Parents are reminded that it is a requirement for children aged 12 years and older (unless exempt) to wear a mask in all public indoor spaces – this includes buses, taxis and rideshare services.

While bus drivers are not responsible for ‘policing’ mask-wearing or for providing masks, we are sure Tasmanian students will do the right thing to keep themselves and our community safe by wearing a mask.

The Department of State Growth is working with bus operators to manage service continuity should COVID-19 impact on availability of bus drivers.

Advice on school bus cleaning has been circulated to all contracted school bus operators regarding regular cleaning of bus interiors, and students are also encouraged to get a Greencard or multi-trip tickets for cashless payment.

In addition, the Department of State Growth has planned to cater for services known to have increased demand. If capacity issues arise, the Department will work with relevant operators to monitor services and vary contracts where appropriate.

Importantly, students should not use public transport or go to school if they are unwell.

To support physical distancing, students should consider the following:

• when queuing at bus stops, maintain physical distancing from other passengers;
• always comply with requests from the driver; and
• practice good hand hygiene. If possible, use hand sanitiser before you board and after you disembark.

School is the safest place for Tasmanian students to learn, and the Government has a comprehensive plan in place to deliver a safe and supportive environment for students, teachers, support staff and parents.

Media release – Josh Willie MLC, Shadow Minister for Education and Early Years, 22 January 2022

Practical application of schools plan demands answers

It is crucial the Premier ensures his government is doing everything it can to keep students living with disability safe and engaged in inclusive learning when school returns.

Shadow Minister for Education Josh Willie said Labor was concerned about the practical application of the recently announced schools plan.

“There are over 4000 students in the state system alone receiving reasonable educational adjustments through learning plans,” Mr Willie said.

“The government still has a lot of work to do to ensure all students with a disability have a learning plan implemented satisfactorily, let alone serious medical plans in a COVID environment.

“The Premier must outline today how he will fulfil his promise that every family will receive a phone call from their school and that medical plans will be worked through thoroughly before school commences.

“Teachers are officially back at school just two days before students and they already have a heavy workload preparing for the most unsettling start to the school year in living memory.

“What additional support has the Premier offered schools so he can fulfil his promise that over 4000 phone calls and medical plans will be delivered in two days?

“It is quite clear the schools plan has been designed by people who don’t currently work in the school system and the government is shifting its responsibility to an already stretched education workforce.

“Before the borders opened on 15 December last year, the Premier said Tasmania was prepared. Since that time, we have witnessed the government’s flimsy plans fail, impacting tens of thousands of Tasmanians in other sectors. Will our schools suffer the same fate?

“If families of students with a disability don’t receive a phone call, can’t engage with their school or receive a plan before school commences, how can they have any confidence their child will be COVID safe at school?

“Can the Premier please advise them what to do if he fails to live up to his promise?”

Josh Willie MLC, Shadow Minister for Education and Early Years, 22 January 2022

Education Minister M.I.A in time of need

With the most unsettling start to the school year in living memory on the horizon, Education Minister Sarah Courtney has gone for a holiday.

Shadow Education Minister Josh Willie said it was unbelievable that the Minister had gone overseas at such a crucial time in the lives of many Tasmanians.

“Right now across the state people are anxious about schools going back,” Mr Willie said.

“Yet instead of having her feet on the ground in Tasmania the Minister has decided now is the right time to jet off overseas for a vacation.

“Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff does not need the added burden of the education portfolio while he tries to manage a health system under immense pressure.

“This is a complete failure of leadership from the Premier and Tasmanians deserve better at this crucial time.”

Josh Willie MLC, Shadow Education Minister, 23 January 2022

Questions remain about schools plan

Serious questions remain about the government’s plan to reopen schools with contact tracing and close contact guidelines deserving further explanation.

Shadow Education Minister Josh Willie said the government needs to provide clear assurances to families that schools will be a safe place for children.

“It is vital the government explains the measures they are putting in place clearly and the reasons behind them,” Mr Willie said.

“With hundreds of schools and over 90,000 students across Tasmania, will Public Health have the resources to stay on top of contact tracing or will it be left to our already stretched education workforce?

“COVID cases in schools have potential to have a great impact on attendances and the government needs to explain what strategies they have to keep students engaged in education.

“There will be families across Tasmania taking a cautious approach to back to school and some may choose to remove their kids from their learning environment if they are notified of a case at their child’s school.

“Working parents may not have the opportunity to do this and will be forced to keep their child at school until they potentially become a close contact.

“Tasmanian children need to be able to engage in education in a meaningful way that isn’t disrupted this year.

“That is why we need clear communication from the missing Education Minister – the level of concern in the community demands it.

“There is a lot of anxiety in the community right now and the government needs to be explaining their strategies for maintaining attendance, assuring parents schools are safe even if there are COVID outbreaks and how students will remain connected with their class learning if parents do remove their children from school.”

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Health spokesperson, 21 January 2022

School Start Plan Unsafe

The plan Premier Gutwein has announced for Tasmania’s education system is a plan to keep schools open, not a plan to keep schools safe.

Despite parents, teachers, the AEU and the Greens consistently voicing concerns about vaccination rates, COVID case management, mask wearing, ventilation, and workforce availability, the Government’s last minute plan does not safely address any of these issues.

There is no explanation – or public health rationale – for allowing classroom positive case numbers to grow to five before action would be taken to increase the safety of students.

Why do primary school children – who will all be unvaccinated when school returns – not have to wear masks, when expert evidence shows this is a key factor in reducing school infection rates?

The Government’s plan to exempt teachers who are ‘close contacts’, but have no apparent symptoms, from isolation means they can return to the classroom and potentially infect children.

This plan denies the science of Omicron transmission, and sows seeds of confusion for parents who are looking to make sure their children are safe. Knowing COVID will be allowed to circulate in schools in these ways will be a clear red flag for many parents – particularly those whose children have additional risk factors.

It’s also not clear the government’s plan to create a pool of teachers to respond to the expected unavailability staff is at all feasible. Relief teachers have already reported being run off their feet before borders opened, and it remains to be seen how many retired teachers will want to take the risk of potentially exposing themselves to COVID, or who want to deal with such challenging circumstances.

Premier Gutwein has declared schools will return on 9th February no matter what. But if ventilation improvement is not complete, the back up workforce is not available, mask wearing is not mandated, and COVID case management is not fixed, he should delay the start date until they are.

Minister Courtney is putting her high-paid attention into relaxing on holiday while her staff scramble to respond to what is probably the biggest school public health crisis since the polio epidemic.

The Gutwein government has formulated a plan they think will keep schools open, but it’s already apparent this plan doesn’t reassure parents and teachers it does everything possible to keep schools safe. The Premier should call his Minister to return, take on board feedback from the AEU in the days ahead, and be prepared to delay the return to school if necessary.

Media release – Australian Education Union Tasmanian Branch, 26 January 2022

Under-developed COVID Return to School plan needs revising

The Australian Education Union Tasmanian Branch calls on the State Government to revisit its under-developed back-to-school plan amid growing teacher unrest ahead of the 2022 school year.

AEU representatives this week met with Government and Department of Education officials to raise concerns about the COVID Return to School plan – a measure union President David Genford said lacked initiative.

It comes as the AEU this week released its eight-point Safe Schools 2022 operational plan outlining measures needed in Tasmanian schools to help safeguard staff and students against COVID-19.

 The AEU is calling for:

1. Proper ventilation audit:

Ventilation in all school learning spaces must, as a matter of urgency, be measured using CO2 monitors to determine if they are safe for staff and student occupancy.

2. Isolation requirements: 

Educators must not be exempted from the definition of close contacts. This forces staff to return to work, despite knowing they could be a risk to their students and colleagues. 

3. Proper and adequate mask availability in all schools:

Cloth and surgical masks are insufficient to adequately protect people from the Omicron variant. The government must ban cloth masks for students and make available N95 or P2 masks to all staff.

4. Free and available RATs:

Rapid Antigen Tests need to be made available freely to all staff, students and families to keep schools safe and reassure anxious parents, carers, students and staff.

5. Thorough assessment of available relief teacher numbers:

To ensure schools can continue operating safely, proper assessment is needed to identify all relief teachers willing and able to work in 2022. 

6. Flexible working arrangements:

Educators should only be required to attend their school for tasks which require their physical presence, such as teaching. Other duties should be undertaken remotely.

7. Reduced gatherings:

All non-essential activities and events with increased attendance or participation should be postponed for safety reasons, including physical gatherings like assemblies.

8. Ongoing support and consultation

The AEU is ready and willing to work with DoE and government to ensure learning in 2022 occurs in the safest possible way. So that this can happen, the DoE must frequently update and consult with educators ahead of any further measures.

 Mr Genford said teachers and school staff were rightfully feeling anxious about returning school with the limited safety measures in place.

 “Parents, as well as teachers, are also understandably concerned about sending their kids to school under the current arrangements,” he said.

 “While it’s pleasing to finally see a government back-to-school covid plan in place, it’s clear much more needs doing. The safety of our staff and students cannot be compromised.

 “Bare minimum safety measures are not good enough. The state government must show a proactive approach and do everything possible to prevent COVID outbreaks in our schools.”

 The state government’s under-developed COVID schools plan comes as the Federal Labor Party this week pledged to significantly invest in education during the COVID-19 recovery, with new targeted funding for public schools.

 “We warmly welcome this commitment of $50 million for COVID-19 related capital works which would help our schools access much needed resources such as air purifiers, improved ventilation and outdoor classrooms, ensuring our school communities can be as safe as possible,” Mr Genford said.

 “Providing public schools with 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard will ensure Tasmanian schools have more teachers, smaller class sizes, greater individual attention and more support to assist students to achieve to their full potential.”