The NSW Teachers Federation Executive met this morning and unanimously endorsed the following:

“Normal school operations must end to put the health and safety of students and staff first on school sites.

It is now essential that an immediate transition to an emergency mode of school operation be put in place with minimum staffing (to support essential frontline services workers who are unable to care for their children during this crisis) and necessary systems to provide maximum health protection for all present on sites. Staff not rostered on minimal supervision are to work from home providing educational continuity as far as is practicable for students online during term time.

To facilitate this transition, from the week beginning 30 March schools must be declared pupil free for all students except the children of essential frontline services workers who are unable to care for their children and vulnerable children.

We note that normal operations for TAFE have been suspended from 30 March until 27 April.

An urgent meeting is being sought with the NSW Premier.”

The above quotes can be attributed to Angelo Gavrielatos, President, NSW Teachers Federation.