Term delays to hit home

BACK-TO-SCHOOL plans have been thrown into turmoil by the decision to delay the new school term, while many teachers are irate at the prospect of another disrupted year.

Describing the decision as a “commonsense move”, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the goal was to avoid students heading back to school just as the Queensland Covid case numbers were expected to hit their peak.

“As the chief health officer has said, there is no way to completely stop this virus from spreading, but we can take steps to protect the community – including our children – as much as possible,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Many teachers questioned why they were being slugged with an extra week of work at the end of term 4, and why some would still be expected to be at school to care for students.

Queensland’s education unions said they did not support the week extension in December, and the Queensland Teachers’ Union is expected to meet this week.

“While the QTU supports the decision of the government to delay the start of the student academic year, we do not support the announcement of the Premier to extend the school year until 16 December 2022,” the union said in a statement.

“The decision to extend the school year does not recognise the impact of the pandemic on the workload and wellbeing of school leaders and teachers, and acts to reduce member working conditions and leave entitlements.”

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said the government had to be clear.

“Parents deserve to know their kids can go back to school with safety and certainty, and information is being shared with them clearly and consistently,” he said.