Teachers and Greens call for schools to be closed

THE Queensland Government was yesterday under pressure to close schools after the state’s powerful teachers’ union took aim at decision making and demanded students be sent home.

The calls to shut classrooms were echoed by the Queensland and Northern Territory branch of the Independent Education Union and the Greens yesterday after Education Minister Grace Grace said schools would remain open until the Easter break.

Despite the Federal Government insisting parents could send their children to school, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian yesterday advised parents to keep kids at home while Victoria will close schools from today.

After meeting to consider decisions by the National Cabinet, the Queensland Teachers’ Union said “it was clear” its executive had “lost confidence” in the decisionmaking around the operation of schools and TAFE during the COVID-19 crisis.

“It beggars belief that schools and TAFE remain open while a whole range of other businesses close,” the union said.

“There is no reference to the safety of teachers, school leaders, and other school employees in discussion of this issue, nor any apparent understanding of the practicality of operating in these education settings (e.g. social distancing).

“Schools continue to operate without promised hygiene and cleaning products.”

The QTU is today expecting “outcomes” from the Queensland Government after a “positive” meeting with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and several ministers in the wake of their demands.

Ms Grace said late yesterday that the health, wellbeing and safety of students, teachers, teacher aides and staff was the Government’s highest priority.

“We are continuing to follow the expert advice from the nation’s Chief Health Officers,” she said.

“Should that advice change, our instructions to schools will change.”