Parents could be fined $1,000 for not sending their children to school as mandatory attendance rules are introduced – but there’s one group of children who can still stay home
- WA Premier Mark McGowan said parents must send their children to school
- Students who are absent without a reason will have fines sent to their parents
- He said there would be exceptions if children or their family have fragile health
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Parents who refuse to send their children to school after coronavirus restrictions are lifted and classes resume could be slapped with a $1,000 fine.
Mandatory attendance rules will re-introduced in Western Australia requiring students to physically attend school from Monday.
Premier Mark McGowan told reporters on Thursday that children would learn more effectively if they were physically at school.
WA Premier Mark McGowan said parents will be fined if they do not send their children to school without a valid reason
‘It’s time for all West Australian students to go back to school and go back to the classroom,’ he said
‘This decision has the support of all stakeholders in the education sector and our health experts.’
Students who are kept home from school will no longer be provided learning materials and will be marked as absent unless they present a valid reason.
‘The fines are $1,000 but there is an extensive process that tries to engage families to try and address the absenteeism,’ Education Minister Sue Ellery said.
Mr McGowan said exceptions will be granted if a student or a family member is medically vulnerable.
Students who are kept home from school will no longer be provided learning materials and will be marked as absent. Pictured are children in Queensland returning to school on Monday
However, being ‘nervous’ about contracting coronavirus will not be counted as an exemption.
Western Australia recorded just three coronavirus cases in 14 days as the state slowly emerges from lockdown.
Students were sent back to school in Queensland and New South Wales on Monday as states attempt to loosen restrictions as infection rates decline.
NSW has still limited face-to-face learning to one day per week with normal attendance expected to resume by term three.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Tuesday students would be returning to school in stages.
Prep, Grade 1, Grade 2, Year 11 and Year 12 students will return to class on May 26 while all others will on June 9.
Students were sent back to school in Queensland and NSW on Monday as states attempt to loosen restrictions as infection rates decline. Pictured are students in Brisbane