By Shelby Brooks
VCE teachers, students and exam regulators are being urged to be fully vaccinated before the start of year 12 exams in October.
On Wednesday 25 August, Education Minister James Merlino said particular concern and priority would be placed on getting year 12 students in their final months of schooling vaccinated.
He said it would give everyone “confidence and clarity” on what the rest of the school year would look like.
“Priority for us is for all final year students to have received a vaccination before they start sitting exams on 4 October,” Mr Merlino said.
“The particular message to our year 12 students, but also VCE staff and staff who are supervising the VCE exams- we also want them to be vaccinated.”
As part of this program, year 12 students will be given priority booking access at our state-run clinics, as will their teachers and examiners. Students and teachers will need to book an appointment, as walk ups are not available as part of this blitz.
Students and teachers will be able to book a priority appointments from Monday 6 September.
The Department of Health and the Department of Education will work directly with schools, and students and parents will receive the advice on how to arrange a booking through their schools.
English teacher and deputy head of senior school at Beaconhills College Berwick campus Kerri Parker said she thought most year 12 students wanted to get the vaccine.
“I would be guessing here but yes- There are quite a few who have already made the move and had their first vaccine,” Ms Parker said.
“I think this is a fantastic idea. It seems that the most likely way for us to live with the virus is to be vaccinated and if that means that students in the future don’t have to experience these lockdowns, then I am all for it.
“I just think it is important to get the vaccine! Given the time between doses, stating ‘before exams begin’ gives an imperative to get onto it now.
“If distancing exam desks and wearing masks offers the protection we have been led to believe, then really, ‘before exams begin’ are words to incite action.”
She said teachers had expressed support for being vaccinated as well.
“Those whom I have spoken with entirely agree and in fact, teachers have been calling out to the government for this for some time,” Ms Parker said.
“Social distancing in a classroom with 20 plus students is a non-sense and prior to the vaccine rollout, the risks to teachers and students was raised quite vehemently.
“The landscape, however, is improving and ultimately, I think getting vaccinated is crucial, whether that can be done before exams or not.”
Ms Parker said the class of 2021 had faced enormous challenges with the uncertainty of when lockdowns would end.
“When there are clear end dates, you can prepare for that by developing a routine and settle into it but the not knowing makes that very hard to do,” Ms Parker said.
“We are also talking about teenagers who are expected to just know how to negotiate this space. I think as adults we can forget that because we are also trying to do the same!
“Having said all of that, there are certainly many students who have confronted this situation with genuine resilience and fortitude which is incredible, actually.”
Ms Parker said although the year 12 students had experienced lockdowns while undertaking year 11, it was still a struggle to go through it again this year.
“They are better equipped in regards to how it all unfolds and are aware perhaps of what did and didn’t work for them last year, however, you cannot replace the benefits of face-to-face not just with the school day routine that ensures a structure, but social networks with friends and the support and guidance from teachers,” Ms Parker said.
“Whilst the latter is available to students, always, regardless of the circumstances, the remote distance can never replace human presence.”
She said the lack of face-to-face contact was a challenge for the teachers as well.
“You don’t get into this game of teaching to not build and nurture connections with your students,” she said.
“Remote learning becomes focused on content and the organic nature of teaching and the richness of discussion are really impacted.
“I have certainly learned that one of the most powerful tools for learning is human interaction combined with content.”
From Monday 30 August, school based assessments can take place on campus in small groups, if they can’t be done online.
The General Assessment Test (GAT) is confirmed for Tuesday 5 October after being postponed twice already this year.
Consideration will also be available for all students this year who have been negatively impacted Covid-19.
“We also confirmed the consideration of educational disadvantage, that is every single year 12 student the impact of the pandemic will be taken into account for them as individual students,“ Mr Merlino said.
“It worked last year and it will work again.“
