World news – AU – School graduates have final day of exams, Premier warns of partying

A collective sigh of relief across Queensland as tens of thousands of school leavers finish their final exams on Tuesday after a « tough year ».

While the world has been grappling with the pandemic for most of 2020, notable events such as Queensland Public Schools Week and Teens have been canceled..

Public school events have been canceled this year but outdoor dancing will be allowed. Credit: Mike Clayton

While most students have already completed their exams, today some take the final exam – the Vietnamese Language Test..

External examinations are held for the first time in Queensland, where graduates are set to receive an Australian university admission rating rather than an OP degree.

More than 37,000 students in the 12-year-old Queensland state began exams three weeks ago, with another 13,079 choosing not to take external exams..

Japanese was the most popular subject for students studying a language other than English, followed by Chinese, French, German and Spanish.

Usually around this time, thousands of parents have been giving their graduating children stern warnings about the dangers of alcohol before packing a car and driving to the Gold Coast or Airlie Beach for a week of partying at schools.

Schools, a rite of passage for the thousands of Australian teens flocking to Queensland after graduation, will not be running out of their usual capacity this year.

While the state government is not organizing the event, it has imposed public health restrictions on event planners to close the party.

Prime Minister Anastasia Palashuk said the celebrations could continue in smaller groups and graduates could host private parties with 50 people after restrictions were eased on Tuesday afternoon.

« It has been a year that no one expected and they have gone from being unable to attend school to going to school and obtaining their official certificates and graduating them. . . . It was very difficult for them and I thank them all for their patience and understanding.

“Maybe they deserve to have a little celebration, not a very big celebration, but a little end-of-year celebration that was so stressful.

A number of assembly restrictions will be eased across the state at 4 pm on Tuesday, including an increase in gatherings in private homes to 50, and the internal capacity limits for restaurants, bars and cafes doubling.

Dancing outside, including music festivals, is permitted, and social distancing will not be mandatory.

“We are only asking people to make sure that they are doing the right thing, and that they adhere to what the COVID restrictions are,” said Ms. Palaszczuk.

« If you are going away to schools with your friends please stay safe, because there will be police there.

Queensland, South Australia, Coronavirus, Victoria, New South Wales