With weeks to go before the HSC commences, NSW's education authority has released further details on how exam rooms will be kept COVID-safe.
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Under guidelines released by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) this week, schools have been asked to cap their exam rooms at 75 students.
HSC students will also face limitations to their interactions with other year groups between now and the start of the exam period on October 20.
Schools have been asked to begin prioritising the rapid cleaning of exam areas and recruit additional exam supervisors.
The guidelines also request that schools keep an alternative venue on standby, should the exams need to be moved at short notice.
NSW Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said via a statement this week that the measures were to prioritise the safety of staff and students.
"Each school's contingency plans will be unique, school principals will be supported by their local directors and the (education) department to develop and implement their individual plans," Ms Mitchell said.
"A COVID-safe plan is about minimising disruption to students if there is a confirmed case at their school."
IN OTHER NEWS:
Meanwhile, national education advocates have this week renewed the push of a standardised test to replace the state-specific matriculation exams.
Outlined by the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), the national certificate of education would take the place of such exams as the HSC in NSW and the VCE in Victoria.
CEO of the association, Phil Honeywood, explained that in its current form, the states were having to compete against themselves for the uptake of international students.
"The timing is right for this to happen," Mr Honeywood said.
"For example, in China some years ago there were 200 international high schools teaching curricula from around the world.
"Now there are 700 (international high schools) and each state's curriculum is having to compete for the students.
"The VCE is being taught in about 50, which means the majority of the students who come to Australia for their post-secondary study, are coming to Victoria."
The standardised national curriculum would also provide easier avenues for domestic students to attend universities outside their home state.
Results in pre-requisite high school subjects are transferable without any trouble.
"If it's good enough for the US and Canada to have one national curriculum, then it's good enough for us too," Mr Honeywood said.