As Rotorua students and teachers prepare to return to the classroom tomorrow under level 2 restrictions, one principal says masks should be mandatory.Director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield has encouraged those aged 12 or over to wear face coverings at school, but it was not compulsory.
Rotorua Intermediate School Principal Garry de Thierry had hoped mask-wearing would be mandatory for students and teachers inside the classroom under alert level 2.
He said he was concerned classroom ventilation systems "weren't the best" in most schools.
"[A virus] just spreads like wildfire," he said.
"You won't have a lot of air circulating. It's a closed environment. And [in wet weather like yesterday], it's not like you're going to have windows open.
"If it was mandatory, we could have organised that. There would be problems within a classroom setting."
He was worried there would be a "drop in attendance" if parents thought it was "too risky" to send students to school at level 2.
Advice on ventilating classrooms in a Ministry of Education bulletin issued yesterday stated the "fastest and easiest" way was to open windows, doors and vents."As your staff and ākonga start returning to the classroom, it's important you consider how you ventilate your teaching spaces."
The Covid-19 bulletin said wearing a face covering at school remained a decision for the individuals and whānau.
"Whatever decisions students and teachers make, it is their own to make and needs to be respected," it said.
"There will be differences of view about the use of face coverings, and it is important to show tolerance towards individual choice in this matter."
Wearing a face covering was not a requirement for anyone in a school setting, the ministry reiterated.
Rotorua Girls' High School student Keeley Conroy told the Rotorua Daily Post she didn't like the idea of wearing a mask in class at it would make communicating difficult, but she would be willing to do it to help keep everyone safe.
"It is probably going to sound like I am mumbling when I am talking to people. I don't like the idea, but if it is going to keep us safe then I will definitely do it."
She said she had enjoyed the extra sleep during the lockdown, but at times found remote learning "overwhelming".
"I have only just kept up with all my work. I don't think I am above where I need to be."
She was "pretty stoked" when the Government announced the move to level 2.
"I missed all my friends and being able to talk to my teachers," the Year 10 student said.
"I like when I can actually talk to people and they can understand me, instead of doing it over a computer."
Keeley's mum Jenna Conroy said she had "quite enjoyed" the family time spent in lockdown, however helping her children with school work had been difficult.
"When you have four other kids all at different levels, requiring your attention, it is quite difficult to spread yourself over that time," the mum of five said.
"If you take out the school day, we have had a really good time."
Conroy, who has two children 12 and above, said she would let them decide whether or not they wanted to wear masks at school.
"I would leave it to them. I wouldn't push the issue. If my children wanted to, then obviously I would provide them with a mask."
Rotorua Lakes High School principal Jon Ward was feeling positive for the return to face-to-face learning, and believed it would help ease exam pressures for senior students.
"It always important, especially in the run-up to exams, that students have as much support as possible," he said.
"Clearly the recent events have reduced that, but hopefully we will have time to pull things back together and support them.
"The fact that we have been here before has made it a little more seamless in terms of what we are expecting and where things are going next. We are confident we can make things work well for the students."
Ward said the school would be recommending students and teachers wear masks.
"We obviously can't enforce it, but we are going to follow the Government guidelines."
The Ministry of Health has been approached for comment.