- New guidelines based on the best national medical advice
- From Monday, March 30 to Friday April 3, all students who attend school will continue to be taught
- However, parents are encouraged to keep them home, if they can access online and other learning resources
- Teachers and education assistants will use the final four days before Easter to prepare for Term 2
- During this period, if students need to attend school, they will be supervised
New learning arrangements in Western Australian government schools will be introduced to help manage the COVID-19 pandemic.
To assist students, teachers and parents, from Monday, March 30 to Friday April 3, all children who attend school will continue to be taught. Staff will continue to be on hand to ensure this can occur.
However, the State Government encourages families to keep their children at home, if they can access the online or other resources for their education to continue.
Children of parents who need their children to attend school to enable them to maintain employment, and those children in vulnerable families, such as children living with grandparents, are encouraged to continue attend school.
Teachers and education assistants will be able to use the time between April 6 to 9 to complete professional development at school to prepare for Term 2.
Arrangements will be in place to allow students to continue to attend school and be supervised, for children who need to attend school on the last four days prior to Easter.
It is expected independent and Catholic schools will introduce their own suitable arrangements.
Work will commence during the school holidays on developing a longer term education model for Term 2 and beyond, in response to COVID-19.
The State Government continues to base its decisions on the best available advice.
Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:
"I understand this has been a very difficult issue for many teachers, parents and students.
"We act on the very best national health advice when it comes to our schools.
"We have made the difficult decision to change the way learning will continue in Western Australian public schools in response to COVID-19.
"Our schools will remain open to students, but it's important that everyone understands, it is not business as usual.
"I want to reassure parents that our schools are well prepared to continue to provide education for their children.
"It's important that those who are learning from home abide by all other laws and that includes all recently-introduced social distancing rules.
"Once again, I thank our teachers and school staff who are providing the critical service of educating our children during this difficult and evolving time.
"I know I'm not alone in recognising their extraordinary efforts for Western Australian children."
Comments attributed to Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery:
"Firstly, I want to thank teachers and school staff for their continued professionalism during this difficult time.
"I also want to assure families that every school aged child at a public school will continue to receive an education in Western Australia.
"We will work with key stakeholders on the implementation of this new form of delivery.
"We understand this is an extremely difficult time for parents and their children and an enormous amount of work has gone on behind the scenes to ensure education can continue from home.
"This week I announced the Learning at home website that has been developed by education experts to provide parents and students with lessons that are in line with the curriculum.
"Resources will continually be added for every year group to give children and young people the best opportunity to learn from home.
"I want to thank parents and carers of Western Australian children for their understanding and support for school staff as we navigate our way together through this unprecedented situation."
Premier's office - 6552 5000
Education Minister's office - 6552 5700
