Return to full-time face-to-face teaching from as early as next Monday may have caught many parents and teachers off guard.
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NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian officially announced on Tuesday students across the state will be back in the classroom full-time from May 25.
But many Illawarra teachers were fuming after hearing the news for the first time via Monday night's television news.
Nevertheless all public students will be expected to attend school full time from next week "under NSW law"`.
There is no such expectation on those students who attend Catholic and Independent schools in NSW.
But Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong is enacting the next stage in its transition plan, which will see all students at all CEDoW schools return to classrooms full time from Monday, May 25.
A spokesman confirmed remote learning will no longer be provided from that date.
Edmund Rice College will also be among many private schools and possibly state schools returning to full time classes on May 25.
So will St Mary Star of the Sea College. The Wollongong school has implemented a staged return to face to face teaching and learning. In the week beginning May 11, two year groups returned for face to face classes and the remaining were engaged in remote teaching and learning.
This week beginning May 18, four year groups, in various combinations, returned to classes and two remained at home to work online. All students will return on May 25.
This is not the case for The Illawarra Grammar School (TIGS).
"The Premier's announcement of a full return to school for public schools has not impacted our plans as TIGS' students in Kindergarten to Year 4 and Year 11 to Year 12 have already returned to campus full time," a spokesperson said.
"TIGS Prep, Year 5 and Year 6 students will return full time on Monday, May 25. Year 7 to Year 10 students will be back three days per week next week and return full time on Monday, June 1.
"We are delighted to have our students on campus in greater numbers....students who have elected to remain at home for various reasons are being supported with ongoing provision of learning online."
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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.
