The teachers' union has warned there won't be enough educators to keep schools open for in-person learning as school administrators plan for multiple COVID outbreak scenarios for the beginning of Term 1.
The ACT Education Directorate is expected to make a final call on COVID safety measures by the end of this week as it pushes towards a full return to classroom teaching.
Australian Education Union ACT secretary Patrick Judge said the lack of relief teachers to cover for sick or isolating teachers was the biggest issue schools were facing.
"Indications are we need to be preparing for the possibility of remote learning at the very least," Mr Judge said.
"It's going to be very challenging for schools to continue in person."
Mr Judge said the public school teachers' union was having productive discussions with the ACT Government about a practical plan for the return to school. The union has been advocating for improved ventilation as the temperature cools, better-quality masks for staff and free access to rapid antigen tests.
Mr Judge said the union was disappointed that there was no national school return plan agreed by National Cabinet, with the work falling to each jurisdiction.
He said teachers were anxious about not having enough staff to keep schools operating as Omicron sweeps through the community.
"With the case numbers we're seeing... there's acceptance that a larger number of people will catch Omicron and that will impact on workplaces," he said.
"That doesn't mean that we should be complacent or blasé about the risks of people contracting what is for some people a life-threatening illness."
Delaying the start of school is not an option that has been discussed in the ACT.
Association of Independent Schools of the ACT executive director Andrew Wrigley said schools preferred to start teaching on campus from day one Term 1, but were putting plans in place in case there was a brief switch to remote learning.
"Everyone is searching for and hoping for ways to maximise opportunity for kids to be at school," Mr Wrigley said.
Mr Wrigley said the strain on the teacher workforce was already evident last year and each independent school would need to have a strategy to cope with absences. Rapid antigen tests should be used as a way for students and staff to return to school, rather than a screening process, Mr Wrigley said.
Schools are expecting many COVID safety measures employed last year to stay in place, including keeping cohorts separate and mask-wearing.
"Wellbeing is something that's always in front of the agenda for schools.
"We want to assure children returning to their schools it is safe, it is stable, they know what is happening so there is a sense of calm expectation."
