Year 12 students across Greater Sydney, and now parts of regional NSW, are facing an uncertain time as they prepare for their HSC exams in the midst of lockdown.
As the state grapples with the spread of COVID-19, the (NESA) stated that HSC students in Greater Sydney should not access the school site unless absolutely necessary.
As the situation fluctuates, and possible lockdown extensions loom, these parents and students told Insight how they’re coping with the situation.
Flanery family
Sam Flanery is trying to juggle her work on the family farm as well as helping her daughter, Clementine, complete her studies online.
“We are farmers and we have obligations outside the house every day and as a result of Clementine going to online schooling I have had to reduce significantly the amount of time I spend on the farm, which is to the detriment to our business,” Sam, whose farm is located in Harden in regional NSW, explained.
“It is an ongoing balancing act but as the mother I tend to keep everything up as much as possible and positive, I feel I can’t afford to be flat or depressed, I’ve got to keep the mood up for the entire family.”
As the HSC looms, Sam is concerned for students attending schools that may not be as well resourced or set up for online learning. She fears for the fairness of the final exams.
Seventeen-year-old Clementine, who boards at Abbotsleigh school for girls in Wahroonga, was home for the holidays when the lockdown was announced. She said online learning is not her preference.
“I don’t love online learning, I quite enjoy school so there’s not that element of fun of interacting with your peers,” she said, adding that feedback from teachers is easier to get face-to-face.
She said she’s unsure about what her final few months at school will look like.
“The uncertainty is a bit unnerving, we’re not really sure what’s going to happen.”
“I think if lockdown is extended there should be some exemptions applied because they can’t keep drawing out trials.”
In 2020, one of Debbie's son's was forced to complete part of his Year 12 studies from home. Now it's her daughter Lillian. Source: Supplied
Jenkins family
Mother of four, Debbie Jenkins, is no stranger to HSC disruption. Last year, her son was in his final year of school when NSW went into lockdown. Now she’s facing the same issues again with her daughter Lillian.
She said her daughter has been anxious at times about trying to keep on top of everything.
“She did have one little meltdown, one little cry and said, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to do it?’.”
Debbie admits that while the situation isn’t ideal, it’s her job as a parent to keep her daughter calm, and to bring some joy and fun into her daughter’s life while she navigates this challenging time.
“We just need to have fun and take Lillian’s mind off everything.”
Lillian, who attends Brigidine College in St Ives, said HSC prep from home has resulted in a mixture of emotions.
“I would definitely say stressed and anxious because everything’s so unpredictable because you have no idea what’s happening, but I know I’m not alone, I’m not the only person feeling this feeling.”
“I also feel lucky that I have a house, good wifi, a computer to do all that stuff, I really feel for the people that don’t have the same things I have.”
She said if lockdown continues she hopes Year 12 students will be able to attend school in-person for the week before HSC exams.
The NESA COVID-19 committee met on Monday and , Wednesday July 21, that oral language exams and dance exams have been rescheduled.
They said there will be further updates next week on hand in dates for other major works, drama, music and written exams, and criteria and further details about consideration where a student’s HSC preparation is significantly impacted by the Greater Sydney lockdown.
They have stated that schools can postpone trial exams or provide an alternative assessment task suitable for the learning from home context.
