
A plan to get year 12 students back inside classrooms by August 16 has been slammed by union officials.
The NSW Government says it is "finalising plans for the resumption of in-class study under strict COVID protocols".
"The NSW Government is also working with industry and the Department of Education to introduce Rapid Antigen Testing to mitigate against outbreaks in workplaces and schools," it said.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced last week that a new mass vaccination hub to be located at Qudos Bank Arena at Sydney Olympic Park, would be used to vaccinate year 12 students from eight local government areas currently under tighter restictions, including Georges River.
But not everyone is in favour of the return to face-to-face learning, with both the NSW Teachers Federation and a local delegate concerned by the plan.
Teachers Federation president Angelo Gavrielatos said he was "deeply concerned" by the safety risk posed by COVID-19 to students and teachers while St George Teachers Association vice-president Glenn Hokin said the return of year 12 students was "premature".
"The announcement was made by the Premier in the very week where record numbers of transmissions were recorded," Mr Hokin said.
"Dr [Kerry] Chant has said that worksites and human interaction are the major contributors to transmission of the virus.
"The announcement by the Premier will see thousands of students and teachers move across St George [and] teachers are concerned about the position the state government is putting our community in."
He accused the Premier of taking a gamble with the health of students, teachers and community members across St George.
"This announcement is ill thought out and has clearly been made to suit a political imperative rather than being founded on sound educational or health advice," he said
"Teachers are alarmed at the fact that those in the Georges River LGA have not been given the same priority for vaccinations.
"Teachers across St George are working incredibly hard to support all their students during remote learning
"Indeed, teachers want to see their students back in class but this must be in line with medical advice and not to merely solve a political problem for the Premier."