Member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders said the government's staggered approach for students going back to school will give health authorities the chance to examine a move towards a broader return.
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Schools are currently open to families during COVID-19, however parents and carers are encouraged to keep their children home where possible.
In April, Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell outlined the plan for students attending NSW public schools to progressively return to face-to-face learning in week three of Term 2.
Under the changes, from week three of Term 2, every student will attend school for one day a week.
The government will look to increase the number of days students are at school in a staged way and hope to have all children back at school full-time by Term 3.
Mr Saunders said each state government has its own thoughts on how to best return to education, and that is based on the situation in those states.
"Our situation is different to Victoria, and is different to Queensland so it makes sense that our way out of this is different to theirs," he explained.
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From next week students who have been away from school will be expected to return on a staggered basis of at least one-day- a-week, with an increased focus on those doing the HSC.
"That approach will give the NSW Government and health authorities the chance to examine how we can move towards a broader return to school," Mr Saunders said.
"It's wonderful that in our part of the world we don't have any active confirmed cases of the virus, but that doesn't mean we can get complacent because things can change quickly."
Mr Saunders said we have done an amazing job in Australia and in NSW of slowing the spread of COVID-19, and it is time to look at ways of moving back towards 'normal'.
"We can't rush that process but, just like we need to look for opportunities to re-open businesses, we also need to find a way forward for schools," he said.
"If we can slowly but surely return children to schooling, and along the way identify and address any issues that arise, we will be as prepared as possible by the time we get to having children back at school on a full-time basis."
Mr Saunders praised the work done by teachers and staff at the schools that have been open throughout COVID-19.
Taylor Jurd
Hi, my name is Taylor Jurd. I am a journalist with Australian Community Media, I write for the Western Magazine and Wellington Times.
Hi, my name is Taylor Jurd. I am a journalist with Australian Community Media, I write for the Western Magazine and Wellington Times.
