Thursday, 16 September 2021
Members statements
COVID-19
COVID-19
This week the Victorian Liberal-Nationals announced a positive new plan to get students back in classrooms across Victoria. Under the Andrews Labor government’s six yo-yo lockdowns, some Victorian students have lost over 150 days of face-to-face learning.
This has had a devastating impact on the educational and social development of young people, and on their families and school communities. Our children and teenagers have been hardest hit as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the government’s harsh restrictions, including school closures, no community sport or activities and the banning of playgrounds.
Our sensible plan to safely get kids back in the classroom will give hope to students for a return in time for the commencement of term 4, with priority vaccinations for willing teachers, rapid testing and fast-tracking of classroom ventilation works, so we can start to get students’ education and development back on track.
Together with experts in education and youth mental health, we’re urging the government to act or risk creating a lost generation of our youth.