Victorian students to learn from home in Term 2

TERM 2 starts in Victoria next week but most students will be doing their learning from home, under new measures announced by the state government to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

All Victorian government primary, secondary and special schools will move to remote and flexible learning and teaching.

Speaking yesterday (Tuesday, April 7), Premier Daniel Andrews announced VCE students would still receive an ATAR score, but there will be a number of changes to the academic timetable for VCE and VCAL students:

• The GAT test will move from June to October or November
• End of year exams will be postponed until at least December
• School based assessment tasks will be reduced where possible to relieve some pressure on students as they move to remote and flexible learning arrangements
• Universities will be asked to delay the start of the 2021 university year to account for impacts of coronavirus on senior secondary students.

VCE study scores will continue to be a combination of school-based assessment and external exams. VCAL students will have more time to complete their courses and this will be consistent with the revised dates for the VCE.

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority is also examining a compressed end-of-year exam schedule – including slightly shortening each exam – in recognition of the disruption caused by the pandemic.

A small number of students undertaking VET may have the award of their VCE or VCAL delayed until the beginning of 2021 so they can complete mandatory practical or workplace learning requirements.

The state government says “all children who can learn at home must learn from home”, with exceptions only to be granted in extremely limited circumstances.

On-site learning will only be available for children whose parents can’t work from home and vulnerable students without access to a suitable learning environment at home. Small groups of VCE and VCAL students can also attend on-site for short periods if their learning requirements cannot be conducted at home. Physical distancing provisions will be made for the safety for teachers and kids.

More than 6,000 laptops and tablets will be loaned to students who don’t have access to one, and schools will also distribute other classroom devices as required.

The state government will deliver free SIM cards or dongles to thousands of students at government schools who need them the most. This includes an agreement with Telstra to provide 4000 SIM cards for government primary and secondary school students.

Priority for the SIM cards and dongles will be given to senior secondary students, students in bushfire-affected areas, and families who cannot afford an internet connection at home.

Victorian government schools will restart on Tuesday, April 14 with a pupil-free day, with students to begin classes on Wednesday, April 15. These new arrangements will remain in place for the duration of Term 2 and will then be reviewed.

“I know this year will be different to any that students, teachers and families have experienced before – but we are making sure that our kids still get the education they deserve,” Mr Andrews said.

“We’ve done the work and planning so we’re ready to make the move to remote and flexible learning, and I want to thank everyone involved for their dedication to our kids’ education at this unprecedented time.”