Education Minister Rob Fleming announced on Friday a gradual return to the classroom on a part-time basis.
Students from K-12 and staff will have strict health and safety measures upon going to school one or two times a week starting on June 1.
For kindergarten to Grade 5, this means most students will go to school half time (such as alternating days), while grades 6 to 12 will go to school about one day a week.
“Schools will look significantly different than they did before the pandemic,” said Fleming.
Fleming stressed that it is still the option for parents to have their children learn from home or go into the classroom.
Some parents will have their children back in the classroom on June 1, and others will wait until September,” said Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry during the conference. “That is perfectly fine.”
In terms of bus transportation, the rule will be only one student per seat, while the driver will have a plexiglass shield.
More hand washing stations will be available at all schools, as well as hand sanitizing stations. Daily self-assessments will be necessary for both staff and students.
Lunch breaks, recess, and pickups will be staggered. School buildings will
“It’s going to be very strict, and it needs to be.”
All school districts will follow the same guidelines.
Throughout the pandemic, there have been approximately 5,000 students in schools that are children of frontline workers.
