Whangārei Boys High School Year 10 students rostered home due to staff illness
Whangārei Boys High School has rostered Year 10 students home due to a severe outbreak of Influenza A affecting staff and relief teachers. The situation reflects a broader trend in New Zealand, where flu-related absences and hospitalizations have reached decade-high levels.
Why it matters
The surge in seasonal illness is straining both the education system and pediatric healthcare infrastructure in New Zealand.
An entire year group at Whangārei Boys High School is at home today because too many teachers are sick.
Influenza A is currently hitting the country hard - the past couple of weeks have been the worst in three years for illness-related school absences.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Whangārei Boys announced that all of its Year 10 students would not come into school on Thursday due to staff and relief teacher sickness.
"Due to a significant number of staff and relief teachers being unwell, we're unable to safely staff all classes.
"Year 10 students will be rostered home for the day - all other year levels attend as normal. Our library will be open and supervised for any Year 10 student who can't stay home; they should report there on arrival."
The school said Year 10s would be able to return to school on Friday.
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