A Canberra public school principal who spoke against the vaccination mandate for teachers in a social media video will not be returning to work next week.
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Families of the Charnwood-Dunlop School were told in a letter Rob Lans "will be taking some time out of the workplace" after the video of him alongside controversial Senator Malcolm Roberts surfaced on Facebook.
Director of School Improvement Belconnen Kris Willis told parents and carers deputy principal Deborah Lowrey would be the acting principal.
It is unknown how long Mr Lans will be away from the role or if he will return.
Mr Willis said in the letter the school's COVID-safe plan to return to on-campus learning was being implemented this week.
"A key part of those plans will be implementing the ACT chief health officer's health direction signed this week on mandatory vaccination for all staff working in primary schools and early childcare and education settings," he said.
"Vaccination coverage is a key component of the return to school plan for all ACT public schools. High levels of vaccination combined with public health social measures are the best protections against COVID-19."
The health direction signed on October 19 requires staff working in early childhood education, primary schools, out-of-school-hours care and specialist and flexible education settings to be fully vaccinated.
They must provide proof to their employer of one dose by November 1 and a second dose by November 29.
Mr Lans said in the video he was compelled to stand up for his values and belief system and questioned the need for a vaccine mandate amid Canberra's high vaccination rates.
"I'm now forced to make a decision for my livelihood, because the government has said that this is what's going to happen. It doesn't make sense," he said in the video.
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ACT Council of Parents and Citizens Associations executive officer Terry Sanders said the council considered the matter to be an issue between the Education Directorate and one of its employees.
"The main concern we have is that ... everyone gets behind the school, and helps the teachers and staff at the school to move forward and for the best outcome for the kids," Mr Sanders said.
It appears a number of school teachers and early childhood staff will need to be redeployed or continue working from home after 79 Canberra educators signed a letter opposing the mandatory vaccination policy.
Preschool, kindergarten, year 1, year 2, year 6, year 9 and year 10 students will return to face-to-face learning on Monday, followed by the remaining grades on November 1.
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