With teachers in WA set to go on strike on Tuesday, the government has recommended that schools stay open. However, the concern arises: How will students be kept safe with fewer teachers available?

President of the Western Australian Secondary School Executives Association Melissa Gillett told Julie-anne Sprague on 6PR Afternoons, “I’ve been in the Department of Education for 34 years. I think this is going to the biggest industrial action that I’ve seen in my time.

“I don’t know where the directive originates, whether it’s the government or the Department of Ed. But there are schools that have said, ‘I don’t believe I can provide an adequate duty of care,’ and they’ve been told that schools will not be closing.

“I think when a principal has made a judgement that they cannot provide an adequate duty of care, that is an enormous decision to overrule that. The principal knows the school site, they know the nature of their kids, and they know the how many staff are away,” Ms Gillett said.

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