The NSW Education Minister says schools won’t resort to closures over COVID-positive cases.

Every student and teacher in NSW schools will be able to receive rapid antigen test (RAT) kits before school returns on February 1, part of twice-weekly surveillance testing.

Masks will be mandatory in high schools and encouraged for children in primary schools.

Minister Sarah Mitchell told Ben Fordham they want schools open throughout 2022.

“What we’re really hoping is that school closures are an exception rather than the rule.

“There may be individual schools that might have more complex settings.”

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Image: Getty/Lisa Maree Williams