IT is still unclear if Victorian school students will return back to the classroom for their first day of the 2022 school year.
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With COVID-19 cases continuing to surge across the country, the Australian Education Union has called out state and federal leaders over the lack of clarity around the return.
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AEU Federal president Correna Haythorpe said the union was ready to work constructively with National Cabinet on plans for the return to school but said there were major challenges ahead.
"These include resourcing, occupational health and safety, the return to face-to-face learning, management of staff shortages and access to appropriate and consistent (COVID-19) tests and testing protocols in the likely event of exposure to the virus," she said.
"However, the current lack of clarity in relation to these issues is creating confusion and concern within school communities.
"There is an urgent need to develop clear guidelines and protocols that school communities can easily understand and have confidence in that are ready to go for the start of the school year."
NSW and Victoria have backed a federal government push for a co-ordinated approach, with the state's premiers meeting virtually on Monday to discuss virus-related issues - including schools.
Queensland has postponed the start of its school year by two weeks, with the state's authorities saying the delay was due to increasing COVID-19 infections and to allow more students time to get vaccinated before classes resume.
South Australian officials have said it was likely rapid antigen tests would be needed to help teachers keep track of the virus.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said he was determined the term would begin as planned.
"Our commitment is to get kids back in the classroom day one, term one," he said.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he was working closely with the NSW Premier on the return to school and expected to develop a consistent approach.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mr Andrews said he would do everything possible to get students back in classrooms on the first day of school.
"I'm in pretty regular contact with the premier of NSW ... The more consistent we can have the rules between the two biggest states in our nation, the two real powerhouse states of our nation, that obviously is a benefit to Victorians," he said
"I look forward to making some announcements; not necessarily a joint announcement, but I think you'll see there'll be some consistency between the NSW and Victorian school policy."
Mr Andrews said the start of school could still look different than normal with the potential for testing measures to be in place, for example.
He said measures would be announced soon.
Ms Haythorpe said it was paramount the knowledge and expertise of the teaching profession was harnessed by the state, territory and commonwealth governments when creating a plan.
She said the plan needed to put the best interests of students and education workers first.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said plans for the return to school would be worked through in talks this week.
"It's obviously a key issue for parents as they are thinking about their children going back to school in a few weeks' time," he told reporters in Canberra.
"We'll look to have those arrangements very clear by the time that occurs."
Mr Morrison reiterated his preference for students to be back in the classroom on the first day of term, rather than learning from home.
- with AAP
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