Canberra students to learn remotely as fewer schools open amid coronavirus

Education Minister Yvette Berry said next term would be "different" to what parents and students have experienced in the past two weeks as teachers have developed a new kind of learning soon to be implemented when school returns on April 28.

Students are still being asked to stay at home but for those who need to attend, such as children of essential workers, Ms Berry said a "reduced number" of school sites will provide supervision.

"Students at these sites will be supervised by out of schools hours care staff supported by teaching staff, and allied health and support staff," Ms Berry said.

"Students at these sites will be undertaking the same kind of remote learning as their peers will be undertaking at home.

"The ACT's four specialist school settings will continue to be available for students enrolled in these schools. Muliyan, the Off Campus Flexible Learning Program, will also be available for those who need it."

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Remote learning will be delivered by teachers who will set tasks for students each week to be completed when is convenient for each family.

Ms Berry said tasks could include listening to music, physical activity, home-based science experiments, reading and online maths.

"There is no need for families to stick to a timetable of nine-to-three," she said.

"Early-rising children might like to get started on tasks first thing in the morning, others might not start until later in the day. That's all okay.

Parents are not being asked to become teachers. Your job remains the wellbeing of your children.

"Our expert teachers will continue to teach and are adapting to do this remotely."

Parents whose children will need to attend school have been asked to register online with the the education directorate.

"This will assist the government to be able to ensure and confirm how many and which school sites would be required to host those children who need to continue to attend school," Ms Berry said.

She said transport would also be made available for families who require it and further decisions would be made after the Easter long weekend.

Ms Berry reminded parents the new system did not mean teachers were available 24/7 and urged the community to "respect" them.

"You won't get an immediate response, and you wont get a response at 8pm after you've had your dinner," she said.

Families who require devices or internet connection to facilitate student's learning will be provided these by the government and should contact their school.

Ms Berry announced on Tuesday Year 12 students would still receive an ATAR score and year 12 certificate through modified assessment.

She said assessment would not be "dissimilar" to what is currently undertaken online and said there was still work underway to decide what assessment for practical subjects would look like.

Ms Berry expected to "learn a lot" next term and said the measures would be assessed at the end of the term and altered accordingly.

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