Two of Geelong’s largest non-government schools plan to continue remote learning until June 26 despite federal government offering $3.3 billion to get students back in classrooms.
Another major Geelong private school, Kardinia College, was “considering” its “options” before today’s deadline to apply for the fast-tracked funding.
Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan on Tuesday announced Australian non-government schools will receive a quarter of their funding early if half their students are back in classrooms by June 1.
The schools would otherwise receive the funding in July.
But St Joseph’s College principal Tony Paatsch said the funding was unlikely to tempt his school into reopening classrooms.
“We are fully expecting at this point we will have remote and flexible learning until the end of term 2.”
“We’re also conscious that on May 11 we may be given some advice [when state government reviews its restrictions], but whether that impacts on schools, we don’t know.”
The college was awaiting directions from its operator, Catholic Education Melbourne, but was unlikely to change its position, Mr Paatsch said.
“We’re stuck in a really tricky spot, as are all catholic and independent schools, as we’re trying to do the right things and follow directions.”
Having non-government schools return to face-to-face teaching before public schools would cause “some real inequities” in Geelong’s “educational landscape”, he said.
“It would be nice to think we are doing the same thing and that the day school goes back, it goes back for everybody.”
Students and teachers had adapted “extraordinarily” well to remote learning, which had benefits such as students being able to rewind recorded classes, Mr Paatsch said.
“But I doubt there’d be a single soul who would say we’d like to stay at home and teach remotely – we really do miss [face-to-face teaching].”
Geelong College principal Peter Miller anticipated remote learning would continue until the end of term 2.
“I understand and I am committed to the obligations we have at a state level,” Dr Miller said.
But both principals indicated their schools could return quickly to face-to-face teaching if state government COVID-19 regulations changed.
Kardinia College principal Catherine Lockhart said, “we are currently considering our options.”
Geelong Lutheran College, Christian College and Geelong Baptist College declined to comment, while Sacred Heart College, Clonard College and Geelong Grammar School did not respond to the Independent’s requests for comment.
