THE ACT Education Union (AEU) says the ACT government’s return to school plan lacks detail.

With only three working days left until the start of school, ACT AEU branch secretary Patrick Judge, says clear plans are still not available for staff.

“We are still waiting to see planning from the ACT Education Directorate on many critical matters, including how to meet the learning needs of students required to isolate away from school without requiring teaching staff to engage in dual-mode delivery of content; how RATs will be implemented and what is required of staff and families when they test positive,” says Mr Judge.

Mr Judge says school staff are “concerned” by the plans’ lack of detail.

“The lack of detail at this stage means that school staff, especially school leaders, will be left to work overtime to pick up the pieces,” Mr Judge says.

Mr Judge says the ACT government has also failed to guarantee a supply of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) in time for the start of the school year.

“With a health monitoring regime in place, school could have started with confidence that those who were attending on day one were covid negative,” Mr Judge says.

“Instead, we will be facing the potential chaos of a wave of infections right at the beginning of a new school year.”

The union is urging the ACT government to provide a more detailed return to school plan.

New students will return to Canberra schools on January 31, with returning students back on February 1.