The union representing over 17,000 teachers and staff in Queensland non-government schools has welcomed the likely delay to primary schools returning as the state faces the peak of the Omicron wave.
The two-week delay to the start the new 2021 school year for primary students was announced by Queensland Premier Annastasia Palaszczuk at press conference on Friday morning.
Independent Education Union – Queensland and Northern Territory (IEU-QNT) branch secretary Terry Burke said the delay would assist in terms of keeping school staff and students safe as well as giving employers more time to plan for the eventual reopening of schools.
“The Queensland Premier’s statements today on the possible delay of primary schools returning is most welcome at this uncertain time and we look forward to the full details of the plan being provided in the coming days,” Mr Burke said.
“IEU-QNT members also await the full details of the national plan for the return of schools as announced by the Prime Minister earlier in the week.
“This plan needs to deal with how schools will manage staff and student exposures and return to school policies, enhanced pandemic leave arrangements as well as air quality and ventilation to name just a few major concerns our members have right now.
“Our union exists to voice the concerns of IEU-QNT members and fundamentally protect their health and safety at work – which has never been more the case than during this pandemic,” Mr Burke said.
