Consistent messages on schooling must remain strong while Tasmania plans its COVID-19 pathway to recovery.
Shadow Education Minister, Josh Willie, said for as long as the threat of COVID-19 remains, clarity is needed.
"Labor supports the Government's message to keep children home unless education support can't be provided," Mr Willie said.
"For people to become complacent at this time would see us risk undoing all the excellent work Tasmanians have done to date that has seen us have no new cases of COVID-19 in the past three days.
"We know that school staff have done an enormous amount of work to provide remote learning resources and there has been a genuine effort to keep home and school learning environments equitable. Despite the extraordinary efforts of school staff and parents, education for our students has been disrupted and depending how long the threat of COVID-19 remains it could be compromised.
"The Premier has stated that planning for recovery will begin this week, and it is critical that along with the health and economic considerations we understand what the education response will be.
"This is uncharted territory, but we do know that there is an urgent need to reconnect student's in key stages of development like the early years and students in years 11 and 12 with the physical context of school. We must also ensure that vulnerable cohorts and their learning opportunities and supports are not compromised during this time.
"The circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic are changing rapidly and rightly the current arrangements are subject to ongoing review. Labor urges the Government to ensure that any change in advice from Public Health is considered in consultation with the broader education workforce. With the right decisions now, we can look forward to our schools returning to normal as soon as possible."
Josh Willie MLC
Shadow Education Minister
