Thousands of Tasmanian students will be at home on Wednesday, with industrial action by education support staff forcing a number of schools across the state to close.
The United Workers Union has called a stop-work meeting for Education Facility Attendants, leaving schools unable to meet their duty of care obligations.
Six schools in the south will shut, including Sorell School, Rose Bay High and Cambridge Primary.
Oatlands District, Dodges Ferry Primary and Springfield Gardens Primary are also on the list.
In the north, seven schools will close, among them Devonport High and Wynyard High.
King Island District High, Parklands High, Penguin District, Port Dalrymple and Table Cape Primary will also be affected.
Mountain Heights school in Queenstown was on the department’s initial closure list, but has since been removed.
Pulse understands parents were given less than a day’s notice, with emails sent late this afternoon confirming the closures.
“Education Facility Attendants play an important role in maintaining a safe and healthy environment in our school,” Sorell School principal Kelly Dyer said in a letter to parents.
“As part of ongoing industrial negotiations … a number of staff will be absent from the workplace.”
“Due to this, I am unable to ensure that we can meet our duty of care to students and staff.”
The Department of Education, Children and Young People said the closures were unavoidable due to staff shortages.
“It is important that schools are able to meet their duty of care to students and staff,” the department said on its website.
The Department of Education has been contacted for further comment.
