Some Canberra parents who attempted to donate air purifying devices to their child's school had their offers knocked back.
Terra Starbird and Peter Richards had seen the benefits of air purifiers in their film restoration business during the the bushfires of the summer of 2019 and 2020 and offered to donate a device to Majura Primary School last week.
A lockdown update sent to parents and carers on Friday said that ACT public schools will not be accepting the air purification units.
"It's a small thing you could do to put parents and kids at ease," Ms Starbird said.
An Education Directorate spokesman confirmed that no ACT public schools would be accepting donated air purification units.
"We appreciate the support of school communities in offering air purification units or fundraising for them. However, ACT public schools will not be accepting these units," the spokesman said.
"If you would like to make a contribution to your school, please speak with your principal about which types of donations would be most welcome."
On Monday, Education Minister Yvette Berry said she had not heard that donations had been rejected.
"If they want to donate air purifiers, that's fine. But the health advice is that that's not necessary as long as we have good ventilation plans, which we do, and that we can open and close windows and get that fresh air flowing through," Ms Berry said.
"We do have around 400 of the Dyson ventilation systems that were donated during the last bushfires for a different purpose of course, and they're still operating within our school communities but I'd suggest if you want to donate something we have to go through those correct safety processes."
The letter from Majura Primary School said the chief health officer, AHPPC and World Health Organisation only recommended the devices in enclosed areas where the ventilation was poor.
"ACT public schools do not have many rooms without ventilation. These rooms are typically not teaching spaces. Our school operational plans minimise the use of these spaces and air purification units will generally not be required," the letter said.
"Thank you to those parents who have offered air purification units and HEPA filters, but we have been advised that ACT public schools will not be accepting these units."
Studies have shown that air purification devices can improve air quality, but they need to be the right size and position for the space.
The ACT government installed 80 CO2 sensors to be installed in about 30 public schools to prepare for the return to school.
The Victorian Education Department bought 51,000 air purifiers for schools but only a small portion have been installed in time for the return to on-campus learning.
