STUDENTS are set to return to on site learning next week, with contingencies in place in case of COVID-19 outbreaks.
The state government has announced that students will return to classrooms next week for term one despite the ongoing COVID-19 wave. As part of the return to school, 14 million rapid antigen tests will be delivered to schools and early childhood education centres so that they can conduct regular testing on students.
A roster of retired teachers, education support staff, and surge administrative support staff will be called upon to help if teachers test positive and are forced into quarantine.
The state government says that 99.7 per cent of school staff has received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. School and early childhood staff must receive a booster dose by 25 February, or within 3 months and 2 weeks of their second dose to continue working on site.
Students in grade three and above must wear masks indoors. Teachers must also wear masks.
The state government has called a return to remote learning a “last resort”. Premier Daniel Andrews said “face-to-face learning is the best option for our kids’ learning and wellbeing. That’s why we’ve done the work to get students safely back in the classroom from the start of term one, and make sure they stay there.”
Education minister James Merlino said that the return to school would be made safer with “vital COVIDSafe steps in place like surveillance testing, improved ventilation and high rates of vaccination.”
Children aged five to 11 are eligible to receive their COVID-19 vaccines.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 26 January 2022