Coronavirus crisis: State School Teachers’ Union of Western Australia tells The West Live’s Jenna Clarke schools must shut to prepare for home learning

The State School Teachers’ Union of Western Australia is urging the McGowan Government to follow Victoria’s lead and shut schools immediately, saying educators need time to prepare for the next phase of remote learning.

Union president Pat Byrne — who says teachers are currently “flying blind” amid the coronavirus pandemic — will detail the union’s concerns to West Live host Jenna Clarke at 8.45am this morning.

She is worried that people are making “huge assumptions” about the ease of setting up online learning, warning that children do not have equitable access to devices once they are out of the classroom environment.

Australian Nursing Federation boss Mark Olson will also speak to Jenna about a letter to state and federal governments published in The West Australian today.

The letter warns against the country’s response following Italy, which has become the flashpoint for coronavirus after overtaking China’s death toll.

Tune in here at 8.45am.