With Covid cases continuing to rise and trending in the wrong direction, today's political announcement is clearly premature.
NSW Teachers Federation President Angelo Gavrielatos said today's announcement about school operations on August 16 in the context of a growing number of COVID cases, suggests this is a political announcement made with little regard for the health advice.
"This does not fill teachers with confidence," Mr Gavrielatos said.
"Noting the advice that worksites and human interaction are the major contributors to transmission of the virus, we are dumbfounded by today's announcement particularly as some of our schools with large Year 12 groups, will have gatherings of up to 600 people on site."
"While the return of Year 12 might represent an aspirational target for the government, we must remain steadfast in observing health advice."
"The health and safety of all our members must come first."
"Further assessment of the evolving health crisis will inform the response of the union in the days and weeks ahead."
