Ministry looking at different options for schools

B.C.’s Education Minster says planning continues for resuming in-class instruction, but there are no timelines for when it may happen.

“Right now we are working with other ministries and education partners to develop plans for a number of possible scenarios including resuming some in class instruction in a controlled and measured way for the future,” Rob Fleming told a news conference Tuesday.

Fleming said the bulk of the work is around updating health and safety protocols such as how many students would return, having hand washing stations and providing protective equipment.

He says several thousand children of essential service workers are currently attending schools in B.C., mostly at the elementary levels.

The normal public school population is around 550,000.

Fleming is pleased with how online learning has gone since B.C. suspended in-person classes March 17 due to the Covid pandemic

“The work we’re seeing throughout B.C. in our schools and at homes, is truly incredible given the hand we’ve been dealt by this viscous pandemic,” said Fleming.

Fleming added he is grateful for the dedication of students, parents, support staff and educators.

He added teachers have been connecting with students with the video conferencing platform Zoom, with 20,000 teachers instructing 275,000 students,

The minister said 20,000 computers have been loaned to students who didn’t have one.

“Thank you to all the students who have had their learning and their lives so deeply impacted by the suspension of in-classroom instruction and especially to our graduates. Everyone who works in education does so due to a deep love for their students,” said Stephanie Higginson, president of the B.C. School Trustees Association.