No plan for when students will return to school said Minister for Education in provincial address

Photo: Pixabay

Sophie Gray

Local Journalism Initiative

B.C. has no plans to open up schools yet, said Minister for Education Rob Fleming in a live teleconference on Tuesday.

Together with Stephanie Higginson, president of the B.C. School Trustees Association, Minister Fleming said the ministry and schools are waiting and taking steps to ensure vulnerable students are cared for before they look at reopening schools. 

“Face to face instruction continues to be suspended for the majority of students in the province, although schools remain open for some students including the children of essential support workers and those that are vulnerable and need more learning support,” said Fleming.

Fleming continued to say that he is proud of all school districts and their collaborative effort with the many partners involved in British Columbia’s school system for quickly adapting to learning from home while still putting the needs of students first.

Students and teachers alike have faced difficulties related to technology access, both in terms of equipment and internet access. Some school districts have been able to lend out iPads and computers to students to help address this situation.

Fleming noted that the Ministry is using technologies available to try and provide as much connection between students and teachers as possible through the use of platforms like Zoom.

Many students continue to struggle to learn virtually, which is why some are able to attend school when needed. But further plans to open schools are still at the very early stages. Fleming said the ministry is taking it’s guidance from the provincial health authority and cabinet as to when they can plan to start bringing more students back to school in stages. Fleming also said they are watching other jurisdictions in Canada and abroad to learn from.

“New Zealand, for example, students will go back to school tomorrow. We are monitoring and learning from places like that and other jurisdictions,” said Fleming. “This will help us here in British Columbia to inform an evidence based plan which minimizes the risk of COVID-19 transmission when the conditions are appropriate.”

So far, the Minister said they have not gotten so far as to having a plan for if teachers will have to be tested or wear person protective equipment when in class instruction returns. Fleming also said that although he knows B.C. schools have the capacity to administer a vaccine, they have yet to discuss whether that will be mandatory for students.