Labor will offer Tasmanian school staff, students and families what ever support is required with the most challenging start to a new school year in living memory.
Shadow Education Minister Josh Willie said with 60,000 public school students and thousands of staff entering classrooms where COVID detections were inevitable, the Gutwein Government must also be prepared to step up and ensure the school community’s safety.
“It’s a confronting time for school staff and for families and students and the government needs to be providing them assurances that all of the work that was promised to keep schools safe has been done,” Mr Willie said.
“Our frontline teachers work incredibly hard to provide Tasmanian kids with the best possible start in life and I know they will be doing everything they can to ensure safety in this new phase of the pandemic after the government opened our borders to COVID.
“They require every available support from the Premier and the Education Department.”
Mr Willie said the return to school today would be particularly difficult for staff and students at Hillcrest Primary School after the tragic deaths of six students on the last day of school last year.
“This school community has pulled together in light of this terrible tragedy and I know the thoughts of all Tasmanians are with them today.
“I send them my personal best in what I know will be a difficult time as school returns.”
Josh Willie MLC
Shadow Minister for Education and Early Years
