The plan has sparked confusion among parents of children in composite Year 1/2 classes, where half the students have been asked to come back to school on February 2, while the other half have been told to stay at home.
An Education Department spokesperson told schools with composite classes that fall across the at-home and in-class learning classification would be asked to nominate either remote or face-to-face learning for those classes.
“Teachers are not required to offer remote learning and face-to-face programs at the same time,” they said.
“Principals will make the call based on what’s best for their school community.
“It’s a practical approach that will support mostly smaller country schools, reflecting the reality of their situation while honouring the spirit of the health advice.”
Education Department chief executive Rick Perse told FIVEaa this morning that he had “greenlighted” principals to make a “local decision” about whether to allow all students in Year 1/2 classes to return to classrooms.
“On the issue of composite classes (we’re) very mindful of that,” he said.
“If there was a couple of Year 2s in a small group then I would be OK wxjmtzywith them attending in a face-to-face basis.”
Perse said he had also authorised secondary school principals to allow Year 11 students studying SACE Stage 2 courses to join Year 12 students when they return to classrooms for face-to-face learning.
The hybrid school model is only set to be in place for two weeks. From February 14, all students are scheduled to return to school for face-to-face learning.
However, the government’s plans could be derailed by the threat of a teachers strike next Wednesday.
Australian Education Union members have until 5pm tonight to vote on whether to support the statewide strike. The union’s executive is scheduled to meet tomorrow morning to discuss the outcome before deciding whether to proceed with the stop-work action.
The teachers’ union said last week that it would not go ahead with a strike if the State Government agreed to extend school holidays by two weeks to make safer COVD plans.
It also called on the Government to release the outcomes of its school ventilation audit and independent report into air filtration units.
But both the Premier and Education Minister have ruled out postponing the start of the school year and say action is underway to improve ventilation in classrooms.
Education Minister John Gardner told ABC Radio Adelaide this morning that a “desktop audit” completed in November last year found just under a third of classrooms had access to fresh air.
He said a second audit identified what work was needed to improve ventilation in classrooms, such as unjamming windows and fixing air-conditioners.
