Ed Council meets again, confirms four areas of regulatory change

The nation’s state and territory education ministers have agreed on four critical areas of regulatory change to support the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector as it copes with the implications of the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Determined at the Council of Australian Government’s (COAG) latest Education Council meeting, held 2 April 2020, the ministers agreed on four critical areas for time-limited regulatory action, namely: 

• waiving fees and charges for COVID19-related applications
• fast tracking qualification waivers
• suspending assessment and rating
• making rapid operational adjustments as required

Regulatory authorities will continue to apply child safety as the primary consideration in regulatory decisions, with Ministers noting that fast tracking waivers and operational requirements are subject to there being “no additional risk to the safety of children and staff.” 

In addition, the communiqué noted that the Council is seeking additional advice and practice guidance from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) on safe COVID-19 ECEC practices, especially relating to room sizes limitations and additional cleaning. 

The meeting was the second such gathering of state and territory ministers of education in a week as Governments continue to respond to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic on the ECEC sector and broader education sector. 

To read the most recent communique please see here.