Principals, teachers, parents and students can now have a say on remote and flexible learning, to gain insights into how the education system can be improved following Covid-19.
Education Minister James Merlino opened a community consultation survey on 9 June.
This survey is expected to inform a summit next month, which will discuss lessons learnt and potential education system improvements from the remote learning period.
The summit will follow an independent analysis of remote learning at schools across the state, and bring together education leaders from the government, Catholic and independent school sectors.
Mr Merlino encouraged all Victorian teachers, students and their families to have a say.
“This is a real opportunity to improve our education system and learn from the remote teaching and learning experience,” Mr Merlino said.
“This summit will bring our school sectors together to report back about the benefits and challenges of remote learning.
“We know that there have been many positives from this experience, and we have a responsibility to learn from them.”
Victorian government primary, secondary and specialist schools moved to remote and flexible learning and teaching at the start of Term 2 to help slow the spread of coronavirus.
Students returned to school from 26 May, when around 391,000 Prep, Grade 1, Grade 2, specialist school students and VCE and VCAL students transitioned back to face-to-face learning.
Grade 3-Year 10 students returned to classrooms on 9 June.
It is understood numerous schools reported benefits during remote learning for students who have previously been disengaged or distracted in the classroom, and for high-ability students who were able to learn at their own pace.
Some students whose learning has been affected by anxiety or other mental health conditions are also understood to have shown significant benefits from remote learning.
Parliamentary Secretary for Schools Tim Richardson and Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education Sonya Kilkenny are also producing reports on the remote learning experience.
The community survey, independent analysis and Parliamentary Secretary reports will all contribute to the findings from the summit.
To have your say, visit https://engage.vic.gov.au/lessons-remote-and-flexible-learning.
