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Dan Andrews says plan to reopen Victorian schools being finalised

Jack PaynterNCA NewsWire
Not Supplied
Camera IconNot Supplied Credit: News Corp Australia

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has flagged three key measures that will allow schools to reopen for onsite learning in term four.

The progress to reopen schools across the state will be a relief to thousands of parents due to the strain of remote learning and social isolation suffered by many children during lockdowns.

The plan hinges on ventilation assessments, carbon dioxide monitors and particle filters.

Mr Andrews said he could not provide a definitive set of dates when schools would reopen, but the government was putting the “finishing touches” on what school looks like for term four.

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He said the road map to reopen schools would be part of the measures undertaken when the state reaches certain vaccination targets.

The Premier said installing ventilators in classrooms with poor air flow and more outdoor learning spaces would be part of the solution in getting kids back to school.

Students have been doing home learning for the majority of term three. Haileybury Rendall
Camera IconStudents have been doing home learning for the majority of term three. Haileybury Rendall Credit: Supplied

“The way in which you ventilate schools, the way in which airflow works in school spaces, is incredibly important in terms of containing and hopefully limiting the number of infections in a school-based environment,” Mr Andrews said.

“Ventilation assessments using literally thousands and thousands of CO2 monitors is going to be underway very soon so that we can test which rooms have sufficient air flow and which don’t.

Remote learning
Camera IconThe plan to reopen schools will come as a relief to many families. Alex Coppel. Credit: News Corp Australia

“There will then be the use of air filters in those rooms which do not have sufficiently high airflow.

“This is all about making sure that we limit the spread of the virus and keep our kids a safe.

“There will be more and more outdoor learning spaces.

“There is an enormous amount of work is going on at the moment, so we can be ready soon to announce detailed plans, and a detailed road map in relation to what term four looks like.”

Year 12 student continues remote learning
Camera IconVictorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the plan to reopen schools would be finalised soon. NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw Credit: News Corp Australia

The Premier also said that as soon as the Therapeutic Goods Administration approved rapid antigen testing in a broader range of settings that in could be “logical to use that … as part of our return to the classroom”.

Mr Andrews also announced that priority access to vaccination appointments for students sitting year 12 exams would start next Tuesday.

A number of vaccination clinics have also been launched at schools across the state including, Gladstone Park and Roxburgh secondary colleges, Point Cook, Wyndham and Lakeview colleges and Dandenong High School, to help facilitate the extra demand.

jack.paynter@news.com.au

Originally published as Dan Andrews says plan to reopen Victorian schools being finalised

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