The Queensland Teachers' Union has called for rapid antigen tests to be made available for teachers at state schools when classes return.
The union's president Cresta Richardson said it wanted a stockpile of the tests to be available onsite so that teachers can access them at work if they develop symptoms.
It comes as the Queensland government will release its plan for the return to school this week — after having delayed the start for state schools until February 7, except for vulnerable children or the children of essential workers.
Year 11 and 12 students at state schools commence remote learning from January 31.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk revealed the plan would not be released until Education Minister Grace Grace recovered from COVID-19 and could announce the plan this week.
Ms Richardson said school staff should be able to access RATs at schools in case they develop symptoms.
Ms Richardson said it was not the place of teachers or staff at school to be conducting rapid antigen tests on children for schools.
"That's really for parents to do … that's not the responsibility of the school or anybody within a school to be testing children for sure," she said.
"If a child is showing symptoms, obviously being able to access a PCR test, or a RAT is really important.
"And then if a kid is all well and good come to school, but if not well, please stay home and recover."
The Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Health Minister Yvette D'ath have repeatedly said there was no health advice to suggest surveillance testing was necessary.
Last week Ms D'ath said the state would not require weekly testing of teachers and students, as has been mandated in New South Wales and recommended in Victoria.
The union represents about 48,000 state school principals and teachers and the president said they were as concerned about catching the virus as anybody.
Union says delay does not disadvantage state schools
Some independent schools were starting remote learning this week — a week ahead of senior students in state schools which would return online on January 31.
But Ms Richardson said state students would not be at a disadvantage.
"Our teachers will make the adjustments to ensure that kids in Year 11 and 12 will have the same access to the curriculum to give them the best chance," she said.
She said she did not believe internal assessments or external assessments should be delayed by the QCAA for all schools to accommodate the late start.
The remote learning plan for senior students included virtual video classrooms where a teacher delivers a lesson, self-directed study, regular check-ins with teachers and assigned tasks.
Ms Richardson said schools and the education department were working through issues around ventilation in classrooms but air purifiers were "not the first step".
