Schools ready to go online

Some New Zealand secondary schools are ready to run completely online, if they have to close due to coronavirus.

But all schools spoken to by Stuff said there was no need to panic, and they were following advice regularly updated from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education.

Parents considering pulling their children out of school are being encouraged not to panic.

As Covid-19 takes hold overseas, schools in Italy, Spain, Japan and parts of the United States are being closed to help stop the virus spreading.

In New Zealand, the Ministry of Education advised the risk of that happening here was low, but schools are preparing for the pandemic just in case.

Christchurch Boys’ High School can offer online learning, but will balance this with students’ needs, should it have to close, headmaster Nic Hill said.

The school used its e-learning after the Christchurch earthquakes and found students’ results went up. However, Hill

was concerned some students did not have internet access and could also be affected by grief if family members were to die.

‘‘We will take individual circumstances into account . . . We’re going to look after everyone, because there are more important things than not being able to do your maths online.’’

At Bay of Islands College in central Northland, internet access is a big concern for a number of students. The school is able to function fully online, with videos of lessons and virtual classes available, as well as spare Chromebooks to lend.

But principal Edith PaintingDavis said the school was doing an audit of how many students lacked internet access, either because of cost or remoteness.

‘‘In the worst-case scenario, we would give them a textbook.’’

Not all schools are keen to go online, such as Wellington High School. ‘‘Schools are obviously about relationships,’’ principal Dominic Killalea said.

While a closure of two weeks could be managed, any longer than that would be difficult, especially for practical subjects such as fashion design, he said.

With children under 14 needing full-time care, the situation is different for primary schools and early childhood education centres.

Cherie Taylor-Patel, the vicepresident of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation, said parents were being asked to consider arrangements if pupils had to stay home for two weeks.

‘‘At the moment there’s no need to panic, but at the same time it’s good that people are thinking ‘What would I do?’ ’’

‘‘We’re going to look after everyone, because there are more important things than not being able to do your maths online.’’ Nic Hill

Christchurch Boys’ High School