Australia's school system will be forever changed

Published 26 March 2020

Australia's school system will be forever changed and possibly improved by what we learn from the COVID-19 closures. Parents will develop a renewed appreciation for the critical role of teachers, and outdated educational practices will be questioned.

Worldwide, there will be a rethink of education when we come out the other side.

We may discover through this process that there are other ways to better engage children and develop more attractive styles of learning in this technological age.

Do schools really need to operate 9-3 for 200 set days of the year? Do we still need to rely on the HSC as the major way of credentialing students for future pathways? I think this crisis will force us to think differently.

The move by many of NSW's 1,100,000 students to online learning must be accompanied by adequate practical and social support for parents and students. Without direct supervision, students require immediate training in how to learn differently, and help to navigate the social isolation they will undoubtedly experience when separated from their peers for long periods.

Our system is having to adjust quickly to the mass delivery of online learning and that is going to cause angst. Our teachers are to be commended for finding ways to help families through this challenging time, but I am concerned about the mental health of students and the impact on families.  It is vital that programs like Social Workers in Schools, which UNE developed, are maintained, so that vulnerable students have someone to turn to.

Many parents will themselves be trying to work from home and torn between their fear and worry about their own livelihoods and the challenge of ‘teaching’ their children. They will be trying to make sure that their 'home-schooled' children are doing meaningful work and not spending all day playing games on their devices or on social media, and this will cause conflict. I can see mental anguish developing quickly.

Strong relationships between families and schools, especially providing dedicated access to teachers, will be vital to maintaining educational standards.

I don't believe there will be a noticeable decline in educational outcomes if schools are closed for a short time. But if closed for 3-4 months, even longer, then that could have a significant long-term impact on students and their achievements.

The strain on our communications networks may create additional problems, too. If we've relied on technology so much for connectivity and our systems go down, the NBN doesn't work or we have problems with Telstra towers, that could add another layer of chaos. Not all families have access to technology, let alone adequate internet access.

However, through it all, teachers are likely to emerge as heroes. Teachers will be the rock during these unprecedented times. It is already bringing awareness of the challenging tasks that teachers face and the difference they make each and every day to our students.

Professor James White is a former principal and NSW Education Department Regional Director for New England.

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