Covid-19 school closures not based on evidence and could have long-lasting impacts on children, report finds

The decisions of States and Territories to close schools was not based on evidence and could have some of the most damaging and long-lasting impacts on children, the landmark COVID-19 inquiry found.

Authors Robyn Kruk, Catherine Bennett and Angela Jackson handed down their lengthy report to the Government on Tuesday, and recommended avoiding school closures at all costs in future pandemics.

They said the closures had affected education experiences, mental health and wellbeing, child development, and in some instances oversight of child welfare and safety.

While noting former prime minister Scott Morrison’s attempt to adopt a national approach on schools in the early days of the pandemic, the inquiry concluded the conflicting messaging from the Federal, and State and Territory governments added to “some of the most confusing information scenarios”.

Health advice provided by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee never recommended widespread school closures.

But, as the report noted, in the early days of the pandemic it was difficult to provide clear communication on the health risks in schools.

As a result, by the time official advice on the low risk was made available, parents had already begun to panic and schools had ultimately begun to transition to remote learning.

“In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was widespread community concern and uncertainty about the potential impacts of the virus on children. Evidence quickly emerged that children and young people were less susceptible to the direct health impacts of the virus, and they had significantly lower risk of serious illness and mortality,” the report said.

“Despite this, many parents withdrew their children from school and early childhood education and care settings to protect them from exposure.”

The report went on to hear the lack of a nationally consistent approach, and the mixed messaging between leaders had further exacerbated confusion and fear.

It noted one example where the NSW, Victorian and ACT governments announced on the same day a decision to transition schools to remote learning, only for Mr Morrison to contradict the announcements hours later.

The inquiry took aim at the former government for not being “able or willing” to explain why approaches diverged, and noted the lack of consistency towards school closures had “led to confusion, fear and distrust”.

“It was often not clear to the public what the objective or rationale for response measures was and the reasons why there were differing approaches,” the report read.

It recommended that to prepare for a future pandemic, governments should “agree frameworks that guide decision-making across jurisdictions on issues such as school closures. This must be balanced with flexibility for jurisdictions to respond to local contexts”.

The inquiry heard that while the Australian government had effectively coordinated a response for the early childhood education sector, the lack of consistency towards school closures had “led to confusion, fear and distrust”.

“To better prepare for a future pandemic, governments should agree frameworks that guide decision-making across jurisdictions on issues such as school closures. This must be balanced with flexibility for jurisdictions to respond to local contexts,” the report said.

It also suggested school teachers should be better supported to deliver remote learning.