Like our prime minister, NSW Primary Principals Association president Phil Seymour wants to get Australia's children back into classrooms as soon as possible.
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But unlike Scott Morrison, Mr Seymour sees three coronavirus pandemic-related challenges which is preventing this from happening anytime soon.
Though if NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has her way, students will be back in the classroom as early as May 11.
Mr Morrison is also of the opinion face-to-face learning is better for students and would free up more opportunities for their parents to help the economy keep moving.
Almost all children will be learning via distance education as Term 2 starts, with schools only open to vulnerable kids and those of essential workers.
On Thursday during the national cabinet meeting Mr Morrison discussed the topic of schools and how best to protect teachers.
As a result of this meeting it was deemed that seven key principles will govern the role of schools in the immediate future.
Mr Morrison reiterated the health advice that school was safe for children but conceded there was a health issue for teachers, adding they were "safer in the classroom than the staff room".
While Mr Morrison hoped measures could protect teachers and they could revert to face-to-face learning sooner rather than later, he stressed schools were a state issue.
At a press conference earlier on Thursday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed more students will return to classroom learning from the third week of the next school term as the state government considers relaxing recommendations in place to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
Ms Berejiklian said the first two weeks of term two in NSW would operate the same as the end of term one, but from week three "there'll be more face-to-face contact for students".
Mr Seymour hopes come the end of term 2 moves will be well in place to get kids back into classrooms.
"Maybe we can look at staggered start times for all students or something along those lines," he said.
"I think this is one of the options being discussed at higher circles, in terms of how we are going to get our kids back to school."
Mr Seymour said he appreciated the Prime Minister's sentiments but felt there were challenges.
"Schools need to support society because it is our role, so we got to be there, we got to be open for those who need it but we have got to look after the staff in our schools," he said.
"I think there is mixed messages about kids being able to pass it on.
"The third thing that worries me is the haves and the have-nots in terms of technology, the gap is widening.
"If you are a family where all your kids can do the online learning without issue, that is well and good.
"But I worry about those families who are not in this position and have only one device to use. We need to address this as a matter of urgency."
Meantime, the Catholic education sector has welcomed the National Principles for School Education response to COVID-19.
National Catholic Education Commission executive director, Jacinta Collins, said the National Principles reiterate the commitment of federal, state and territory governments for the continuation of quality schooling for Australian children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The National Principles show a continued commitment by governments to ensure Australian students receive a high quality education, while allowing for the delivery of remote schooling as needed during the pandemic.
"They also recognise the need to ensure the health and safety of students, teachers and staff," Ms Collins said.
The full list of principles is as follows:
- Our schools are critical to the delivery of high quality education for students and to give our children the best possible start in life. Our education systems are based on the recognition that education is best delivered by professional teachers to students in the classroom on a school campus.
- It is accepted that during the Covid-19 crisis, alternative flexible, remote delivery of education services may be needed.
- Our schools must be healthy and safe environments for students, teachers and other staff to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of education to students.
- State and territory governments and non-government sector authorities are responsible for managing and making operational decisions for their school systems respectively, subject to compliance with relevant funding agreements with the Commonwealth.
- . Decisions regarding the response to Covid-19 in the schooling sector must continue to be informed by expert, official, national and state-based public health and education advice, consistent with these national principles.
- All students must continue to be supported by their school to ensure participation in quality education during the Covid-19 crisis.
- The health advice consistently provided by the AHPPC is that attendance at a school campus for education represents a very low risk to students.
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Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
