All official overseas travel by State school students and staff has been halted until further notice due to the continuing threat of the coronavirus COVID-19.
Minister for Education, Grace Grace said the Director-General of the Department of Education, Tony Cook, had issued the Directive.
“The decision was made with the health, safety and wellbeing of students and staff in mind,” Ms Grace said.
“In consultation with the Chief Health Officer and Queensland Health it was decided that further protective action to contain COVID-19 was needed to minimise risk to Queensland students and staff,” she said.
Ms Grace said the decision aligned Queensland with other State education systems.
“Schools should manage the impact of this Directive locally and communicate this decision to parents and caregivers as a matter of priority,” she said.
“I recognise that this Directive may cause some disruption to planned tours and I would ask that schools work with their travel agents and insurers as appropriate.”
Ms Grace said the Department continued to follow the advice of Queensland Health in relation to the management of the significant health issue.
“Any decision to close a school or early childhood centre would not be taken lightly and would be based on advice from the Chief Health Officer,” she said.
“It would also include a full assessment of any risks to the health and welfare of staff, students and children.”
The Minister said continuity of learning was an extremely important consideration in the Department’s response planning.
