PARENTS across Canberra have taken to social media expressing anxiety around sending their children to school, with a number of mums and dads saying they’ve decided to keep their kids at home. But Education Minister Yvette Berry says this could be causing harm. 

“Keeping children home from school before absolutely necessary could be doing more harm than good, including putting additional strain on essential services, like health and aged care, with reduced staff numbers,” says Ms Berry whose children are still going to school amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

The conversation sparked when Steve Wainman posted on the “Canberra Notice Board” Facebook group saying: “Are people sending their kids to school or keeping them home?”

In response, a number of parents took to the group saying they have made the decision to keep their kids at home. One mum, Tania, wrote that she has decided to keep her children home after reading comments on the group page.

Another parent, Sara Elizabeth Vidler said: “I’m keeping mine home as of tomorrow it’s getting way too serious.” 

And other parents said they were keeping their children home because of their chronic medical conditions.

A majority of the people, though, said they would keep their children at school until told otherwise, something that Minister Berry says is important.

“I understand that people are feeling anxious at the moment. The current advice is that schools are safe to attend. At this early stage, there is no need to keep children home from school unless they are unwell or have been asked to self-isolate,” she says.

“Plans have been developed for ACT schools to respond to the potential spread of COVID-19 in school communities. These plans will be scaled in proportion to the spread of the virus consistent with the best possible health advice.”

Ms Berry says keeping children at home will affect their ongoing education, which she says is essential for development and life outcomes.

“For the foreseeable future, schools will remain open. However, things are moving fast and the government will act quickly as the situation changes,” she says.

“The ACT government is putting measures in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19 following the best and most up to date health advice available. The current advice is that schools are safe to attend.

“My advice to families is to practise good hygiene and educate children on practising good hygiene – particularly the importance of washing their hands properly.

“My advice to the community as a whole is to be kind, be patient, and look out for one another. If we are united, we will get through this as a community.

“My family and I are following health advice. I encourage the community to do the same by staying up to date and checking the ACT Health website regularly.”