Teacher vax rules may lift

Fears of risk to students, staff

AS Tasmanian students prepare to head back to the classroom, it’s been confirmed unvaccinated teachers might soon be able to return to work at public schools despite the vaccination mandate that was introduced in February.

Education Minister Roger Jaensch said on Friday the policy was being reviewed and the department was considering removing the requirement to provide proof of vaccination status.

He said it would only be a small number of unvaccinated teachers.

“That is a very tiny proportion of the overall staff of the department and of our teaching population, we’re talking about less than 1 per cent,” Mr Jaensch said.

After the public health emergency declaration ended at the start of July, all departments are reviewing the vaccination mandate for state service workers. Whether the mandate is lifted is down to each department.

Australian Education Union state manager Brian Wightman said allowing unvaccinated teachers to return would put students and staff at risk.

“At a time when Tasmania’s Covid-19 wave is on the rise, it’s disappointing the state government appears determined to weaken health and safety

measures in Tasmanian schools,” Mr Wightman said.

“Staff Covid-related absences have rocked state schools throughout 2022 and any plan returning unvaccinated workers into schools will only accelerate the crisis.”

Teachers and other education staff have until August 3 to provide feedback on the proposed changes.

Labor’s education spokesman Josh Willie said an explanation was needed.

“What has changed? We still have the threat of Covid outbreaks in our schools,” Mr Willie said.

“The minister is unable to explain whether there will be unvaccinated teachers working with vulnerable students who may have a health condition or disability.”

Mr Jaensch said teachers would wear masks when working with medically vulnerable students.

“The decisions behind earlier mandates that still apply for staff in our schools was to ensure we had as many people in our school environments vaccinated,” Mr Jaensch said.

“This was to protect our workforce and ensure schools can stay open. We’ve been able to achieve a very high, nationally high level of vaccination in Tasmania that’s served us very well.”

The current wave of the virus is not expected to peak until August, with cases expected to increase when term three begins.

Mr Jaensch assured it was safe for students to return to school.

“Our approach continues to be safe, measured and flexible to respond to the changing situation, ramping up or down as required,” Mr Jaensch said.

“This could mean extra Covid-safe measures such as face masks and reducing large gatherings are brought back into individual school sites that may be experiencing increased cases.”

He said options were available for students unable to attend school, with the virtual learning centre an option for isolating students to learn from home.

Face masks and rapid antigen tests will continue to be available for staff and students.