Updated
March 26, 2020 21: 23: 12
Premiers have announced a series of different measures for schools across the country, with some calling on parents to keep children at home if they can.
Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia will keep schools open for the children of essential workers but will begin to implement pupil-free days in the coming weeks.
The Federal Government has been adamant that schools would remain open and while most states have kept schools open for now, some have indicated they will move to remote learning in the weeks and months ahead.
Australian Education Union federal president Correna Haythorpe told the ABC it was clear this was not “business as usual”.
“These announcements today are a welcome first step,” she said.
She said the pupil-free days would give teachers time to begin preparing to deliver classes by distance.
Ms Haythorpe called on governments to recognise the challenges of educating students throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and asked for teachers to be given the necessary time and resources.