Principals want calm during COVID-19 crisis

School principals are calling for composure and coherence as the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases rises.

President of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation (NZPF), Perry Rush, said: “Principals are always the community leaders in challenging times, and I am proud that principals have once again risen to the current COVID-19 challenge.”

“We have been successfully following the very clear nationally and internationally sourced expert advice from Government and the Ministry of Education and will continue to do so,” he said.

Liam Rutherford, President of NZEI Te Riu Roa, said:

“The Government’s decision to close schools and early learning centres is a strong, decisive and necessary move in the fight to flatten the curve of Covid-19.

”Schools and early learning centres will be closed except for children of essential service workers on Tuesday and Wednesday, before being closed completely from Wednesday night.

“The decision will be a real relief to those working in schools and ECE centres who have become more anxious as the threat of Covid-19 has grown.

“Key to the Government’s announcement was the assurance that all schools and ECE centres will continue to be funded as normal. We’re talking with the Ministry of Education to make sure this means everyone working in education can continue to be paid as normal while they are forced to stay home.”