Children in Prep and students in Years 1, 2, 11 and 12 will lead the staggered return to classrooms.
From June 9, students in Years 3 to 10 will return.
“This is a staged approach, a staggered approach, both in terms of public health to limit the number of people that are moving throughout the Victorian community and also for a whole range of practical reasons, to give schools the appropriate time to move back to face-to-face teaching,” Andrews said this morning.
It comes as Victoria has recorded 17 new cases of coronavirus overnight, bringing the state’s total to 1509.
Victoria is the last state or territory to set a date on a return to classes.
Andrews had previously said that schools would be closed to everyone – except vulnerable students and children of essential workers – for all of Term 2.
Today’s announcement comes after the premier on Monday announced that Victoria would start its phased reopening of the economy.
Andrews warned the return classrooms will not mean a return to normality.
Drop-offs will be staggered to stop parents and carers “mingling” near the school gates, while recess and lunch breaks will also take place at different times throughout the day.
“School will look different than what it would normally look like,” Andrews said.
“Adults, teachers and staff will socially distance. That will be challenging.”
There will also be increased cleaning at schools, with an extra $45 million in funding, to minimise the risk of spreading the virus.
Merlino said teachers and school staff over 70 will be able to work from home while the pandemic continues.
Staff over 65 with a medical condition, any staff with compromised immunity, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff aged over 50 also have an exception and can work from home.
