Coronavirus, Schools

Ms LUETHEN (King) (14:21): My question is to the Minister for Education. Can the minister update the house on the progress of schooling in South Australia in term 2.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (14:21): I am very pleased—

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan: Specifically, Modbury TAFE.

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee is warned.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: —to have the opportunity to answer this outstanding question from the member for King, who was talking to me about some of the things that she would like to see in her local schools only this morning, as she does most days. Can I say that I would rather be in South Australia than any other place in the world at any time but never more so than right now, and I think that parents, educators and students across South Australia are probably feeling that today as well.

We have in South Australia the benefit of some outstanding teachers, some outstanding leaders and some outstanding educational support staff whose value to our community has always been important but, again, potentially never more appreciated than they have been over the last couple of months. Particularly, those parents who have had the joy of participating in some home education potentially have an even better understanding of the value of the work that is done in our schools than they may have even had before.

They were able to professionally transition for what might have been seen as a necessary remote or online learning platform at the end of term 1, when 34 per cent of our students were at school, and prepare for the opportunity to do that if necessary in term 2. Then, as the public health advice became even more strongly and confidently reassured by our public health officers that schools were safe, the decision of the government to keep them open was wise and, indeed, parents could be encouraged to send their children back to school in term 2. That is a way that teachers, and indeed all those school staff, have shown themselves at the fore of their professionalism and the importance of the work they do.

I make note of the fact that this Saturday, 16 May, is Education Support Personnel Day. So for all the people who work in our schools—the business support officers, the SSOs, the groundsmen, the people who work in a whole wide range of activities that enable the important work of our schools to continue—we pay particular tribute to them this Saturday, and I encourage all members to engage with their schools in doing that.

Throughout this, as we have done in every other aspect of government, we have focused on the health advice. Professor Spurrier and her team have been consistent that schools are a low-risk environment. We have protocols in place for when school closures may be necessary, but otherwise they are a low-risk environment where students and staff should feel safe, particularly given the cleaning and hygiene upgrades and enhancements that we put in place. We have been consistent in that. Not everyone has, but I am really pleased to see that the opposition and other advocates around the public debate have also now come on board and are encouraging kids back to school.

Parents in South Australia, families and educators can be proud that as of yesterday we are now above 90 per cent attendance in our South Australian schools. In fact, yesterday, we tipped over 90.1 per cent, 3.2 per cent of students learning at home and 6.7 per cent absent. In terms of absenteeism, 6.7 per cent is actually significantly lower than usual. We believe there have been some health benefits from people practising good hygiene and social distancing.

Educators, parents and schools on the eastern seaboard, I think, look at us with a significant amount of envy. I acknowledge the great work that is being done in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, which have had, consistent with us, the same sort of advice. Western Australia is over 80 per cent, as I understand. I look forward to them reaching the 90 per cent goal that South Australia has set. Over the coming months, I am sure the Eastern States will catch up.

This is so important for our students' education, our students' welfare and our students' social development, being able to be in school where they can be in discussions with their teachers, their colleagues and take advantage of the facilities that are in our school environments. The students that the Premier and I spoke to at Parafield Gardens High School this morning certainly reinforced that. I am very confident—

Mr Brown interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Playford is on two warnings.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: —that we will see in the months and indeed years ahead the benefits of the strong decisions this government has taken. I welcome the opposition's return to taking the scientific advice, as they have done in the last couple of weeks.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!