VCE students identified as primary close contacts in a COVID-19 case are to be exempt from isolation orders in their exams under special arrangements being introduced by the public health team.
According to the Minister for Education, James Merlino, the changes will be made for the students while keeping the broader community safe.
Mr Merlino said the public health team felt confident about allowing students to complete their exams because more than 80 per cent of 17 to 18 year olds had already received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
“VCE students who become primary close contacts will now have permission to attend their exams, while otherwise complying with the isolation orders that apply,” Mr Merlino said.
“These students will be able to sit exams in dedicated rooms with separate entrances either by themselves or safely distanced from other students who are also primary close contacts, depending on capacity,” he said.
“They will be supervised by staff wearing face shields and enhanced PPE in safely ventilated rooms that are cleaned between each use.”
Mr Merlino said each student who had been identified as a primary close contact would need to be tested every 48 hours in their first week after exposure and then again on day 13.
The Minister said the process for students who tested positive for coronavirus would not change and they would not be able to attend school or their VCE exams.
“They will receive a Derived Examination Score for any assessments they are forced to miss, with the Consideration of Educational Disadvantage process also taking their situation into account,” he said.
“All VCE exam rooms will keep a registration of students and a seating plan that can be accessed for easy contact tracing, helping to keep the number of students and staff forced to isolate minimal,” Mr Merlino said.
