‘If you can learn from home you must’: Victorian students will study remotely in term two

All Victorian students who can study from home will be taught remotely from the beginning of term two next Wednesday.

Year 12 students will have their exams postponed until at least December, with Premier Daniel Andrews not ruling out the possibility of exams being pushed back to January or cancelled altogether.

“If you can learn from home you must learn from home,” Mr Andrews said while announcing the change.

Education Minister James Merlino said remote learning will remain in place for the “entirety of term two”, unless advice from the chief heath officer changes.

“If we need to extend it that’s what we’ll do,” Mr Merlino told 3AW’s Neil Mitchell.

A small number of teachers will remain at schools to cater for those who cannot learn remotely, such as vulnerable children, children of essential workers, or those whose parents are unable to facilitate their home study.

The changes announced apply to students at all schools across the state.

The state government will provide equipment required for learning to students who don’t have access to it at home.

“We’ve got 4000 sim cards, we’ve got 1000 dongles, the department has 6000 laptops, computers and tablets and there will be many, many thousands more in schools across the state,” Mr Merlino told Neil Mitchell.

“If a child needs a computer or a tablet they will receive one.”

Mr Merlino ruled out the possibility of a Year 13 extending into 2021.

“Your child will finish the year, they will receive their VCE or VCAL certificate, there will be no need for Year 13,” he said.

For Year 12 students, the GAT, which is usually held in June, will be pushed back to October or November.

School-based assessment tasks (SACs) will be minimised as much as possible.

Press PLAY below to hear Mr Merlino on 3AW Mornings.

Press PLAY below for the Premier’s press conference.