‘Children need you’: Scott Morrison sends a direct message to teachers complaining about going back to school – and urges educators to view themselves as ‘heroes’ like nurses
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison has asked teachers to keep classrooms open
- He thanked teachers for their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic
- Mr Morrison said medical advice remained that coronavirus risk is low for kids
- Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has asked the nation’s teachers to keep classrooms open, especially for the children of essential workers who cannot be effectively homeschooled.
‘We cannot allow a situation where parents are forced to choose between putting food on the table through their employment, to support their kids and their kids’ education,’ he says in the message.
‘We will lose many things in the course of fighting this virus. One thing that I know teachers are united on, with their parents, is we do not want one of those things to be the loss of a child’s education, giving up a whole year of their learning.’
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has asked the nation’s teachers to keep classrooms open
He thanked teachers for their efforts to keep classes going, in many cases online, while the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
‘I want teachers to know from me, both as a parent and as a prime minister, just how appreciated you are and how important the job is that you’re doing right now and how much you are needed,’ he said.
In Victoria, term two for schools resumes today but most students will be learning from home.
Mr Morrison said the expert medical advice remained that the coronavirus risk remains very low for children attending school, but the health of teachers was a priority.
‘Quite rightly, state and non-government education authorities are working on how to support and protect those teachers who continue with classroom learning, or having other arrangements in place for them.’