Premier Peter Gutwein announced on Friday as of next week parents who are able to keep their children home and supervise them should do so.

"Schools will remain open for the children of essential workers," Mr Gutwein said.

Coronavirus: All the latest updates on COVID-19 for Tasmania

"They will remain open for any parent who doesn't have the ability or support available to them to provide adequate supervision and learning support for their children."

Australian Education Union Tasmania president Helen Richardson said the move would reduce anxiety for educators under immense pressure to plan for a new world of learning.

"Student-free days for the remainder of Term 1, with the exception of essential workers' children and students who are not supported to learn from home, will give educators some relief as they try to prepare for Term 2 while continuing to provide for the students in their classes now," Ms Richardson said.

"Less students in class makes the social distancing and hygiene measures more practical to implement and frees up some time to prepare Term 2 offsite learning, which has a range of complexities."

Tasmanian Association for State School Organisations president Nigel Jones said starting online learning next week was something the association had been pushing for.

"A lot of parents were getting very anxious about having their kids at school for another week," Mr Jones said.

"They have made the move in line with what's happening around the rest of Australia."

Mr Jones said teachers would continue to work on programs for online learning.

"Those [students] who don't have electronic devices to do it online will have packages sent home by the schools," he said.

"This is a really positive, exciting time for parents to get reengaged in their children's education."

Labor leader Rebecca White said her party had been calling on the government to act early and prepare for school closures.

"We have said all along that some schools must remain available for the children of essential workers and vulnerable families who can't provide adequate support at home," Ms White said.

"Any issues with home learning can be worked through, but the priority is to ensure children, school staff and their families are safe."

Greens health spokeswoman Rosalie Woodruff said the announcement put an end to the state's mixed messaging on physical distancing.

"We understand and support the government's intention to keep schools open for the children of healthcare workers. We all need those people to be able to continue their lifesaving work in these difficult days," Dr Woodruff said.

"The transition to home education won't be easy, but it is critical to put the health and safety of all Tasmanians first."

School attendance across the state has dropped off this week as parents have voluntarily kept their children home.

The Department of Education said the state-wide preliminary attendance rate at government schools on Wednesday was 50.6 per cent and on Thursday was 44.2 per cent.

"This week has been exceptional low at a lot of schools, in fact, so much so, that schools have been condensing classes," Mr Jones said.

"What was down to maybe 50 per cent of kids attending schools this week I would say the majority will be staying home next week and doing it online."