Why Victorian schools should be cancelling school camps and excursions

There are calls for Victorian schools to cancel school camps, excursions and “anything that doesn’t need to happen” due to the risk of spreading COVID-19 and influenza.

3AW Mornings has been made aware of several schools returning to home learning due to significant numbers of sick students and teachers.

Debra James is the general secretary of the Independent Education Union and said schools should be doing everything possible to minimise risk right now.

“I think that’s the sensible thing to do,” she said.

“I know kids will be devastated and parents will be gutted about it, and I know staff would want to be on them, but you need a lot of staff to go away to keep the numbers right at camp.

“Of the camps I’ve heard of, that have happened so far, you lose students along the way because they start testing positive and then their parents have to come and pick them up.

“I think people should just make sensible decisions and anything that can be put off, should be put off, while we try and put a circle around this.”

Press PLAY below to hear her make the case

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