Advertisement
Canada markets closed
  • S&P/TSX

    22,167.03
    +59.95 (+0.27%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,254.35
    +5.86 (+0.11%)
     
  • DOW

    39,807.37
    +47.29 (+0.12%)
     
  • CAD/USD

    0.7381
    +0.0009 (+0.12%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    82.99
    +1.64 (+2.02%)
     
  • Bitcoin CAD

    95,912.61
    +2,903.91 (+3.12%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,241.30
    +28.60 (+1.29%)
     
  • RUSSELL 2000

    2,122.07
    +7.72 (+0.37%)
     
  • 10-Yr Bond

    4.2060
    +0.0100 (+0.24%)
     
  • NASDAQ

    16,379.46
    -20.06 (-0.12%)
     
  • VOLATILITY

    13.03
    +0.25 (+1.96%)
     
  • FTSE

    7,952.62
    +20.64 (+0.26%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    40,168.07
    -594.66 (-1.46%)
     
  • CAD/EUR

    0.6841
    +0.0036 (+0.53%)
     

NSW teachers unions urge delay of year 12 return to school amid Covid outbreak

Teachers unions from both the private and public sectors have implored the NSW government to delay the return of year 12 to face-to-face learning until 28 August, saying that the planned return date of 16 August is “too risky”.

In a rare joint statement, the Independent Education Union and the NSW Teachers Federation said the Covid-19 situation in NSW was getting worse and that since the end of June the highest number of infections (more than one quarter) had occurred among those aged 0-19 years.

Related: NSW Covid update: Sydney suffers worst day of pandemic with 262 cases and five deaths as Delta spreads north

“As teachers, we are determined to welcome students back to face-to-face learning as soon as possible but this can only happen when it is safe to do so,” they said.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The NSW government recently described NSW as being in a state of national emergency. The decision to return HSC students in the greater Sydney area to schools in mid-August is dangerous, unsafe and unwise,” they said.

The unions have asked the premier to heed her own health advice and delay the return to school. They want the HSC trial exams conducted remotely and they want more consultation with stakeholders on the roadmap to 28 August.

Principals from independent schools have also been meeting on Thursday via Zoom to discuss the issues surrounding a return of year 12.

Concerns have been raised about how to keep students socially distanced in corridors and how to keep year 12 segregated from other years. A small number of students are attending from other years because they have no other choice due to parents’ work.

A delay would also give the mass vaccination program planned for 21,000 students in the eight hotspot LGAs of western and south-west Sydney time to take effect.

Related: Gladys Berejiklian changes course on HSC students returning to school

The doses of Pfizer vaccine, which have controversially been diverted from regional NSW, will be administered at Qudos arena at Homebush between 9 and 16 August.

The government plans to bus in at least 3,000 students a day. But given the Covid outbreak in the west and south-west, it will be necessary to socially distance students on buses and implement cleaning, adding to the complexity of the mammoth task. There are also questions about what to do about students who decline to be vaccinated.

The unions’ views have been conveyed to the premier who in the last two days appeared to waver on the timetable for return to face to face learning for year 12 but has not yet announced an alternative plan.

The NSW Teachers Federation president, Angelo Gavrielatos, said: “If the premier fails to heed the scientific evidence, we will consider all options available to us to protect our students and our teachers.”

The two unions represent almost 100,000 teachers and school staff from more than 3,000 schools.

Comment has been sought from the premier and the education minister, Sarah Mitchell.