Sarah Courtney,Minister for Education
Our number one priority since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic has been to keep Tasmanians safe and secure.
Our Reconnecting Tasmania plan will see our borders safely open to all jurisdictions on 15 December, when all eligible Tasmanians aged 12 and over have had the opportunity to have the vaccine.
The Tasmanian Government is ensuring we retain safeguards in our community, including in our schools.
The Department of Education recently finished collecting amenity information, including heating, cooling and ventilation data, on every Department-owned building
In response to that we will be taking a range of actions including improvements to ventilation, support use of air purifiers, upgraded outdoor learning areas, the provision of face masks, as well as a continued focus on hygiene and social distancing and site management, including cleaning.
The Government has allocated $300 million in our Budget to support the COVID response, and we will spend whatever is needed to support our students at both Government and non-government schools.
A joint working group is being established with representatives from Independent Schools Tasmania and Catholic Education Tasmania, to ensure a multi-sector response to COVID safety in schools.
We know that maximising natural ventilation in our learning spaces is one of the most effective methods for minimising the potential spread of COVID-19.
In addition, information about external school windows is being gathered over the next two months, with results to be received progressively during that time.
The information gathered will inform remedial works, such as easing and adjusting windows to ensure they operate as intended, to maximise ventilation in indoor settings.
We aim for this work to be completed before the return to school in February 2022, and where it is going to take longer alternative strategies will be put into place.
The Department of Education will be ordering air purifiers, with the type and amount to be determined based on an assessment of need.
We will also look at where we can use outdoor learning areas to help reduce the transmission of COVID-19, which may include the installation of shade structures, nature-based play areas, outdoor seating and refurbishment of outdoor common areas.
The Government will continue to work closely with Public Health and schools on this matter, and will take all action necessary to ensure the safety of our children.
