Parents in NSW and Victoria have hit out at return to school plans, with some saying testing kids each week could be “traumatic”.
Plans to get students back in the classroom have been met with some concern after it was revealed children will be take rapid antigen tests twice a week and close contacts will not need to isolate.
NSW and Victoria will roll out a plan that sees students given tests to take at home. If a student tests positive, their family must alert the school and the respective government’s health departments before isolating.
But there is some concern about using RATs on a cohort that is less vulnerable to the effects of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
Melbourne-based geriatrician and internal medicine physician Dr Kate Gregorevic wrote on Twitter: “I am so glad Victorian and NSW kids are returning to school. I do worry that the twice weekly use of RATs will divert these from populations at higher risk of severe disease who need early treatment, and I also hope that this doesn’t further transfer adult anxiety onto children.”
NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell was also peppered with questions about whether parents will stockpile the tests and refuse to give them to their kids. She defended the “honour system” in an interview with ABC Radio on Monday morning.
“Yeah, it is [an honour system],” she said. “We’re relying on families to use these tests, and I think they will.
“I think parents will welcome having that extra tool you can use to keep kids safe.
“I’m really confident parents will use them in the way they’re intended.”
The Education Minister echoed comments from Premier Dominic Perrottet who said there will be “bumps” along the way.
“I’m confident with the planning and the work we’ve done,” Ms Mitchell said.
“There will be some bumps. We’ll have students who will be out. It won’t be a normal year. The alternative is we keep schools closed and nobody wants that.”
It comes after many NSW parents revealed they were unhappy at the new back to school measures that will see up to six million tests sent to 3000 public, Catholic and independent schools across NSW ahead of the start of term.
Once the tests are delivered to schools by Wednesday, parents will be able to arrange a time to pick up the kits once they are contacted by school staff.
While some parents were concerned about how the new measures will be implemented, others voiced fears about the testing process being overwhelming for young children, particularly those with sensory disorders and disabilities.
Concerned mother Nicole said on the NSW Health Facebook page: “There is no way I am routinely testing my kids. Are you trying to traumatise them? This will cause mental health issues.”
Another mum also on the social media website agreed, saying: “It’s traumatic for my autistic kids every time. No preparations for kids with disability. It’s outrageous.”
Others were concerned about how the Government will enforce the rules, with one parent questioning: “How can you prove the kids do the test? I am seeing people say they aren’t testing their kids.
“How will we know if they did the test on themself and not their kids?”
The NSW Premier said he highly recommended students in Year 3 and above wear masks and said visits would be limited to schools to ensure the Covid-safe plans could be undertaken.
“We are incredibly confident that while there will be disruption, as we move through this period of time and as we know through this wave of the latest outbreak of Covid, there will be challenges that come our way,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We need to make sure that we have kids back in the classroom in a safe way, and I think the work that has occurred right here in our state with the Department of Education, it has been a significant effort.”
Mr Perrottet said he understood some parents may be “anxious” but said kids “do better” in the classroom.
Some children have already missed a quarter of their schooling, he said.
“It is what is best for mental health and social outcomes,” Mr Perrottet said.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said while she supported face-to-face learning, there was expected to be some infections in schools.
“We are calling upon all parents to ensure that any children with symptoms are not sent to school,” Dr Chant said.
“We are likely to see some transmission in schools, but the strategies that have been put in place by Education, in conjunction with Health, are strong.”
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce told Sunrise on Monday that he fully supports the plans to return children to the classroom, saying the pandemic is not going anywhere.
“This is part … of what we do now that we’re out of the cave, we make sure that we reduce the risks of getting sick,” he said.
“I think that is an important step. People have got to learn how to live with Covid-19.”
– with Kate Schneider and Lauren Ferri
Originally published as NSW, Victoria returning to school: Big problem with testing students
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