THE Australian Education Union has criticised the State Government for what it believes is “utterly inadequate” action in South Australia’s public education sector to mitigate COVID-19 health risks.
According to the findings of a union survey released yesterday, over 70pc of respondents had observed students ignoring national medical advice regarding social distancing, with around 54pc of the 1400 respondents labelling social distancing impossible in the classroom environment.
The survey also highlighted the education workforce had felt undervalued and stretched to breaking point during the coronavirus outbreak.
However, Education Minister John Gardner said the government was putting its money where its mouth is with the provision of cleaning supplies and school support, conceding social-distancing measures had been challenging for schools to maintain.
Delivering the survey findings yesterday, AEU South Australia branch president Lara Golding said despite an estimated two-thirds of students being absent from public schools, it was difficult – if not impossible – to ensure social distancing in the classroom.
“This is compounded by the size of older students. Classrooms are normally transmission points for colds and flu through airborne droplets and contaminated surfaces and touch points,” Ms Golding said.
“Conditions for staff are also stretched – most offices are too small and there are too many staff in them to effectively social distance.”
More than half of the survey respondents – 52pc – also believed the daily cleaning regime at their site was insufficient, including regular cleaning of common touchpoints and surfaces.
Ms Golding said around half of respondents reported no access to sanitising products.
“Many members stated they had supplied their own sanitising products such as hand sanitiser, soap and hand towels,” Ms Golding said.
“Students are reluctant to go to toilets to hand wash and rely heavily on dwindling supplies of hand sanitiser.”
Ms Golding urged the State Government to ensure workplace health and safety measures were being met if its position remained to keep schools and preschools open.
In a press conference yesterday, Education Minister John Gardner said he had spent time speaking with schools, teachers, families and students over recent weeks regarding the impacts of COVID-19.
“I agree it is a challenge to maintain social distancing in classrooms, but schools have placed different mechanisms to respond to those challenges,” he said.
“There are also less students on site, which has made social distancing easier than it was before.
“It is a difficult time for everybody, we are all doing our best to get through and ensure we are providing the best learning opportunity for our children in a safe environment.”
Mr Gardner said the government had been proactive in supplying adequate hygiene products to South Australian schools, making sure all had sufficient worth of materials.
“We have spent $500,000 on hygiene products to enhance cleaning regimes at schools,” he said.
“We have asked them to report if they are running out and deliveries were made as soon as possible.
“From my understanding we have made up to 600 deliveries to date and many schools have received more than one delivery.”
Mr Gardner said the advice of health professionals was clear that schools should remain open, with enhanced cleaning and hygiene and as much social distancing as possible.
“We are putting our money where our mouth is when it comes to cleaning and providing support …we do not want any schools running out.”
