Wednesday, 9 February 2022

COVID-19

Mr MAAS (Narre Warren South) (19:14): (6201) The matter I wish to raise is for the attention of the Minister for Education and concerns the Andrews Labor government’s supplying of schools with rapid antigen tests and air purifiers. The action that I seek is that the minister provide an update on the provision of rapid antigen tests and air purifiers to schools in my electorate of Narre Warren South.

The state government’s response to the global pandemic has seen us go through various phases, including lockdowns and remote learning in schools. Thankfully there are now more tools to combat and manage COVID-19 and its variants to allow schools to return to face-to-face learning. I know the minister has been working to keep our students safe in the classroom, and as we have seen throughout this pandemic, things change; new variants do come along. More is learned, however, and advice is updated, and we continually need to adapt to stay ahead of the virus.

Now, air purifiers and rapid antigen tests have been rolled out as a key part of the return to school of our students. Alongside children’s vaccinations, I hope these measures will help keep our students attending school in person to interact with their friends and teachers in a more normal environment. Schools are so important for a great start in life, and this government is taking steps to ensure that our students, staff and families have the tools that they need in this new COVID-safe world. I would appreciate if the minister could provide an update to me on how the rollout of rapid antigen tests and air purifiers in schools is progressing in my electorate of Narre Warren South, and I look forward to sharing the minister’s response with my community.