The Gutwein Government and Acting Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff need to clarify how many school staff they will be standing down because they are not vaccinated, as the school year starts tomorrow.
Shadow Education Minister Josh Willie said the government had confirmed last night that 95 per cent of Education Department staff had provided proof they were vaccinated for COVID but that left serious questions about the remaining five per cent, including support staff, specialist teaching staff and teachers.
“Are schools prepared for their absence and are senior staff aware of their vaccination status?” Mr Willie said.
“The number of unvaccinated staff equates to hundreds and, at a time when the government is struggling to recruit teaching staff and conceding there will be shortages when COVID is detected in schools, those staff and parents need answers.
“There has been no clarity on this crucial issue as the vaccine mandate for teachers comes into effect today, despite the government confirming last month that all teachers will have to prove they are fully vaccinated by today to be able to return to classrooms.”
“As we start to return to school and the focus shifts, we’ve sent out a memo to remind them (teachers) that they need to have their details and their information uploaded by February 8 to be able to continue to teach in our schools.” Jenny Burgess, Education Department Deputy Secretary, January 22.
“The fact is this should have been sorted out well before now on the eve of schools going back.
“It’s becoming clearer that the government is scrambling to complete the work required to prepare schools for the inevitability of COVID outbreaks and while Education Minister Sarah Courtney still remains in Europe on holidays, it’s incumbent on Mr Rockliff to be doing everything possible to assure teachers and families.
“That includes releasing the modelling which has been carried out which shows a five per cent absence rate for staff and students would have an impact on schools and a 20 per cent rate would bring significant pressure to the school system.”
Josh Willie MLC
Shadow Minister for Education and Early Years
