The Department of Education has announced that its revised lesson delivery will allow the full curriculum to be delivered to Queensland students over a condensed semester.
As a result, it said, an extra week at the end of the school year will not be necessary.
Minister for Education, Grace Grace said it was a commonsense measure to delay to the start of the school year in response to the risks posed by the current Omicron wave of COVID-19.
“It’s important student learning isn’t impacted, which is why we flagged an extra week of term,” Ms Grace said.
“However, after some very helpful and productive meetings with key stakeholders, I am satisfied the full curriculum can be delivered in the condensed semester,” she said.
“Revising lesson plans for curriculum delivery through Semester One will ensure continuity of learning for students and means an extra week of school originally proposed for the end of Term Four is not required.”
The Minister said teachers, principals and school staff had risen to every challenge posed by the pandemic so far “and I know they will do so again in 2022”.
Ms Grace said the revised date for the start of the 2022 school year remained as 7 February, a two-week delay.
“Year 11 and 12 students will undertake remote learning from 31 January until the revised formal start of the school year on 7 February,” she said.
“All other students are welcome to use the excellent resources available on our learning@home site, while vulnerable children and those of essential workers will be supervised at school sites,” Ms Grace said.
The Department’s learning@home resources can be accessed at this PS News link.
