SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS
GOLD Coast tertiary educators are crying out for more support as the coronavirus travel ban begins to sting.
It comes as NAPLAN testing in both primary and high schools has been cancelled this year.
Study Gold Coast CEO Alfred Slogrove said he had lobbied for student study visas to be relaxed.
He said the sector was adapting as best it could and has urged students to “hang in there”.
Queensland Teachers Union head Kevin Bates praised the decision to cancel NAPLAN.
Schools and preschools will remain open.
GOLD COAST tertiary educators want more support for international students and private firms as the coronavirus travel ban begins to sting.
It comes on the same day it was announced NAPLAN testing in both primary and high schools would be canned this year.
Study Gold Coast CEO Alfred Slogrove said he had lobbied for student study visas to be relaxed.
“Our international students are now in an awkward situation seeking clarity on visa implications if their provider closes and support if they need health care,” Mr Slogrove said.
“While no schools or universities have been cancelled, we have already seen other governments writing to us, seeking information on where we stand.
“We are urging students to stay enrolled, stay engaged and practice good hygiene as best they can – our message is hang in there.”
Mr Slogrove said the group was calling for changes to some visas which require faceto-face English lessons and funding support for providers.
“The sector is adapting as best it can. We are taking the Gold Coast Student Hub online and have a counsellor for any students concerned.
“The situation is really hard on people and we are doing as best we can to assist.”
Queensland Teachers Union head Kevin Bates praised the decision to cancel NAPLAN.
“We see this as a fantastic decision and strongly support this commonsense approach so schools and teachers can get on with the job of managing classrooms,” he said.
The Education Council said the decision was made to help school leaders, teachers and support staff to focus on the wellbeing of students and continuity of education, “including potential online and remote learning”.
Gold Coast state schools are continuing to send out reassuring messages to parents, with Pacific Pines State High School principal Mark Peggrem advising parents the school had “taken a number of precautionary steps to minimise contact between students and maintain social distancing, including separating lunch breaks for junior and senior students and cancelling all extra-curricular activities, excursions and incursions”.
Saint Stephen’s College principal Kim Cohen said it was ready for off-campus classes if schools do close. The move follows All Saints Anglican School’s decision to close its doors and move lessons online.
Bond University has implemented a contingency plan to minimise risk following increased anxiety around the pandemic. This enables it to complete its studies without impinging on academic standards, a spokesman said.
“Students who do not wish to attend campus for in-person classes have the option to use technology and join multimodal classes so they can participate off-campus with minimal disruption to their studies. These arrangements are now in place,” he said.
Students finish classes on March 27 and prepare for final assessments.