Education advocacy group #VCEWhatsThePlanDan welcomes today’s announcement that every VCE student is offered a priority Pfizer vaccine in the coming days and looks forward to the Victorian Government delivering on this commitment.
However the group has reiterated its stance that VCE examinations must proceed, and expressed concern that little was said about planning to ensure that outcome, beyond the rescheduled GAT on the 5th October.
#VCEWhatsThePlanDan spokesperson A/Prof Caroline Dowling said: “Our objective is to make sure, first and foremost, that VCE students get to sit their exams, with as many vaccinated as possible as safely as possible. Exams must go ahead – we owe this to the students who have placed their faith in the education system and continued with their studies despite the remarkable challenges.”
“We welcome the announcement of priority vaccination in this regard, something we have been requesting for two weeks. Time is now of the essence.”
A/Prof Dowling reiterated that priority for second dosing should be introduced and a second dose given at the 3-4 week mark so that a VCE cohort - vaccinated to the maximum possible extent – could sit the English exam in eight weeks.
The advocacy group acknowledged there would be some students who would not sit these exams. “As we know, many have disengaged from education, and others are dealing with physical and mental health challenges, financial or family challenges that make this too difficult,” A/Prof Dowling said. “We expect that those students will be treated with compassion and that steps will be taken to ensure this does not unfairly limit their future opportunities.”
She added that the group had not given up hope on a return to school and would continue to advocate for rigorous planning to enable this to occur. Importantly consideration should be given to those VCE students with specific needs this term, such as folio subjects, to enable them to attend school where required.
“As parents, we feel for all our children and particularly our year 12s who will miss all their usual school finishing rites of passage after an extraordinarily challenging two years.”
