The return of students to school is a very positive and exciting move out of the COVID-19 lockdown, however with Year 12 VCE exams looming it is vital that all schools can remain open safely from the 12th, through the entire exam period.

It is my request that before all students return to on-site learning on their respective dates, that they receive a COVID-19 test. If a student, or close member of a school community should be diagnosed with COVID-19, this jeopardizes the likelihood of VCE students being able to attend their exams. 

If all students, in Metro Victoria at a minimum, are tested before they return to campus, there will be an increased likelihood that the schools can remain open for the rest of the year. 

Part of the Victoria's approach to being able to move out of the lockdown is to keep the testing levels up. This compulsory test for all students will also help the state wide data for assessing the virus. Further, as parents will most likely be taking their children to the testing facility, they too may be tested, helping the state's virus data, benefitting their own workforce and their children's' schools. 

All students will be returning to school before VCE exams. If one school has to close because of a positive case, it jeopardizes the exams for the whole state.