Students at public schools in New South Wales will return to full-time class from NEXT WEEK in major easing of coronavirus lockdown
- Students at public schools across NSW will return to classrooms from next week
- The decision is a major relaxation of coronavirus lockdown policies in the state
- Students have been transitioning into full-time learning again for two weeks
- Have been attending school one day per week with plans to gradually increase
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Students at public schools across New South Wales will return to classrooms on a full-time basis from next week.
The decision is a major relaxation of coronavirus lockdown policies - which initially determined students would ease back into school one day per week.
The state government made the announcement following a successful transition into part time learning earlier this month.
Students weren't initially supposed to return to full-time face-to-face learning until July 21, but are now all invited to return to school from Monday May 25.
Safeguards will remain in place to ensure social distancing policies are enforced and to protect students and staff.
Students at public schools across New South Wales will return to classrooms on a full-time basis from next week
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has always maintained schools are a safe environment for students during the pandemic, and said children are not primary transmitters of the deadly respiratory virus.
State governments had the powers to make their own decisions regarding keeping schools open or closing them to minimise unnecessary contact.
While Victoria opted to close schools entirely, New South Wales instead opted for a more lenient approach, urging parents to keep their children home if possible but leaving classrooms open for families who had no other options.
When the PM announced the easing of restrictions as Australia flattened the coronavirus curve, state premier Gladys Berejiklian said she would begin easing students back into classrooms one day per week, aiming to have them running at full capacity again by term three, about July 21.
Ms Berejiklian urged parents to remain cautious when sending children back to school
Students weren't initially supposed to return to full-time face-to-face learning until July 21, but are now all invited to return to school from Monday May 25. Fort Street Public School posted a sign welcoming their students back
But continued success has meant she can open schools earlier, hopefully encouraging more people to return to work.
Ms Berejiklian urged parents to remain cautious when sending children back to school.
On Monday, she said all parents should consider avoiding public transport where possible.
'When it comes to school children, we recommend, if you can, walking the children to school or dropping them off to avoid the public transport system,' she said.
Schools throughout the state also received a delivery of 550,000 health and safety items ahead of inviting students back.
The consignment included temperature checking hand guns, 40,000 bottles of hand sanitiser, 20,000 bars of soap and 20,000 toilet rolls.
There are 7,054 known cases of coronavirus in Australia so far, including 99 people who have died
