The Department of Education has announced that school students will gradually transition back to the classroom during Term 2 as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, Sarah Mitchell outlined the plan for students attending public schools to progressively return to face-to-face learning in week three of Term 2.
Ms Berejiklian said health advice continued to be that schools remain open, and parents, teachers and students could be confident that school was a safe place.
“We are grateful to all families who kept their children home from school at the end of Term 1 and to teachers who worked tirelessly to deliver education online,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We know that nothing is more important than a child’s education, and we must begin to return our students to their classrooms in a considered way,” she said.
“Under these changes, from week three of Term 2, every student will be attending school for one day a week.”
Ms Berejiklian said that during the first stage of on-campus learning, parents would be encouraged to keep their children home except on their allocated day of face-to-face learning.
“Initially, about a quarter of a school’s students are expected to be on site at any one time,” she said.
“The specific days students will be required to attend school each week will vary from school to school and will be clearly communicated to parents.”
She said classes would be split across schools, allowing schools to appropriately social distance students and teachers.
Ms Berejiklian said teachers had an additional day to prepare for Term 2, making today (29 April) the first day of term for students.
