The State’s 1,139 schools now have students back in their classrooms at the start of Term One.
Minister for Education and Training, Sue Ellery said almost 477,000 students had returned to public and non-Government schools — about 3,000 more students compared to the same time last year.
Ms Ellery said a total of 33,600 kindergarten students were in school for the first time.
“There are four new public primary schools — Shorehaven Primary School, Burns Beach Primary School, Riva Primary School and Treeby Primary School — bringing the total number of public schools in Western Australia to 826,” she said.
“More than 700 graduates will take up their first teaching jobs in public schools, where there are approximately 24,000 full-time equivalent teaching positions at the start of 2022.”
The Minister said to ensure the safety of students and staff, as well as continuity of learning, schools would operate in line with the State’s Safe Return to School Plan.
“This includes a ventilation strategy, enhanced cleaning services and workforce, and remote learning contingency plans in public schools, masks for secondary students and school staff, and mandatory vaccinations for school employees and regular visitors,” Ms Ellery said.
She said the Department had also put in place new close-contact definitions and testing protocols to come into effect at the point of very high caseloads in the community.
“These definitions are specific to school and childcare settings to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission, while also minimising the impact on student learning,” Ms Ellery said.
