Victorian schools urged to cancel curriculum day before the Melbourne Cup

With only a few days notice, the state government has asked schools to cancel curriculum days scheduled for Monday, November 1.

A request to cancel the student free day on the Monday before Melbourne Cup Day, and move it to a later date, was sent by the state government to all state schools and Catholic schools.

November 1 is the first day students of all year levels are permitted to return to on-campus learning at Melbourne schools after months of learning from home.

But it’s also, for many, the first long weekend since travel restrictions were eased.

McKinnon Secondary College principal, Pitsa Binnion, says her school never had a curriculum day planned for November 1, but she understands why many schools do.

“A lot of families take their children away so most schools have a really reduced number of students attending,” she told Ross and Russel.

“They choose it as less disruptive.”

But Ms Binnion expects most schools will comply with the state government’s request.

“Schools have excelled at being flexible this last 18 months and I think most will revert to it not being a curriculum day,” she said.

“Given the circumstances this year, and given it’s the first day that every year level returns to school it’s probably unwise to have it as a curriculum day.

“But people have planned these days from the beginning of the year. It’s not like they’ve just called it now.”

Press PLAY below to hear why Pitsa Binnion thinks most schools will cancel the curriculum day