The teachers union says more ACT schools should go to remote learning after the work safety regulator was called in at a school over high staff absences.
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Macgregor Primary School was the first ACT school to send part of the school back home to learn because there wasn't enough staff to hold all classes face-to-face.
Australian Education Union made a complaint to WorkSafe ACT regarding another Canberra public school on Thursday relating to safety concerns caused by staff shortages.
The ACT branch president Angela Burroughs said Macgregor Primary School was not an isolated case and she would not be surprised if more schools followed in switching to remote learning in the final week of term.
"Macgregor was a turning point for the Education Directorate. It was recognition that maybe they had not been acting in the best interests of students and staff by cobbling arrangements to keep schools open," Ms Burroughs said.
"In some situations it's more harmful to keep them open."
A WorkSafe ACT spokeswoman confirmed it had received a complaint via the Australian Education Union.
"WorkSafe ACT will respond to this complaint in the same manner as it responds to all complaints," she said.
"Appropriate enquiries will be undertaken by the inspectorate and we will make no further comment on this matter."
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Education Minister Yvette Berry said she was surprised that remote learning hadn't been employed sooner this term considering the high numbers of COVID-19 cases in the territory, and could not rule out other schools being affected.
"We can't predict what's going to happen next week or day to day in fact, but we're ready for it if that needs to be the case," Ms Berry said.
"We still need to have that flexibility within our community for employers and others that on occasion, parents and others within our school communities ... will have to take some time out."
An Education Directorate spokesman said no other schools would be moving to remote learning on Friday besides Macgregor.
Ms Burroughs said the directorate and school leaders should not be fearful of going to remote learning, as the stress of being understaffed was starting to take a toll.
"It's a different experience but it's a learning experience," she said.
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Sarah Lansdown
Sarah covers all stages of education in the capital, from early childhood to higher education. Previously she was a general news reporter at The Advocate in North West Tasmania. She was named Best New Journalist at the 2019 Tasmanian Media Awards for a series on paramedic shortages. Email: sarah.lansdown@canberratimes.com.au
Sarah covers all stages of education in the capital, from early childhood to higher education. Previously she was a general news reporter at The Advocate in North West Tasmania. She was named Best New Journalist at the 2019 Tasmanian Media Awards for a series on paramedic shortages. Email: sarah.lansdown@canberratimes.com.au
