Parents say they have been left confused over the government's "mixed messages" as they prepare to send their children back to school.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Majority of schools in the Riverina have returned to an online learning this week, with each school to manage a different system of classroom return from May 11.
Amanda Fennell's two sons are in years 1 and preschool at the Wagga Christian College, where students across all year groups will be physically back to class from week three.
While the school has provided ample information, Ms Fennell expressed that the lack of consistency nationally left her perplexed.
"There's been a lot of mixed messages, it hasn't been black and white," she said.
"I've got friends [at public schools] they were told schools would be open for essential service workers, but no child would be turned away. There's a lot of room to move in that one sentence."
Related:
Minister for Education Dan Tehan told The Daily Advertiser that the "decisions about schools are a responsibility of state governments".
"The federal government has consistently said we should follow the expert medical advice and the expert medical advice has been consistent that schools should remain open," Mr Tehan said.
"If we continue to flatten the curve and practice good hygiene and social distancing, our Government wants to see students and teachers return to classroom learning by the end of May at the latest, because face-to-face teaching is essential to a student's education."
Jenny Glazebrook's two eldest children travel from Gundagai to the Christian college, while her younger two in years 5 and 7, attend public schools.
Micah in year 12, and Merridy in year 11 each have health conditions that will prevent their full-time return to classes.
"They have three hours on the bus everyday, in winter when they're already prone to getting sick so we've decided they will only go to school one day a week when we will drive them," she said. "The school has been amazingly flexible."
Ms Glazebrook has an autoimmune disease, and her husband suffers a rare brain disorder, the decision was not a casual one.
"I am pleased the government is being cautious, in our family we have to be cautious because this virus could be fatal. I appreciate caution, but nothing has been clear," she said.
With two children in Wagga's Catholic schools, Celia Connor described the situation as "haphazard".
"Different classes have different arrangements at different schools and times. It works in theory, it's flexible, but I think in practice it has to be a blanket rule," Ms Connor said.
"There seems to be a lot of discretion left up to the schools about how it will work. There's a lot of interpretation. On one level, that's OK, but the virus isn't discretionary.
"I think everyone needs to be on the same page. At this time of confusion we need transparency and collaboration, but I haven't felt we've had that."
In other news:
The situation becomes even more complicated for Mel Cummins, who has children in years 7, 9 and 10 spread out across Catholic, public school, and homeschooling systems.
"It's confusing for the kids to know where they're going and when," Ms Cummins said.
"It's also really hard for the schools to make some consistency when there's not a lot of consistency coming from the top."
Having Crohn's disease, Ms Cummins' year 7 daughter has also had to be incredibly careful.
"This is going to be such a hard year for them, particularly for students in kindergarten or year 7, they're such important years."
In response to the confusion, state minister for education Sarah Mitchell reiterated that the decision will be ultimately up to parents. No child will be turned away from the school gates, particularly in public schools.