The province has decided to close school classroom learning indefinitely, however students will have assignments and work to do. Remote and online learning and assessment is going to be the new normal for children from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
At the advice of the chief provincial public health officer, Manitoba is suspending classroom learning for kindergarten to Grade 12 students indefinitely for this school year to help ‘flatten the curve’ and reduce the impact of COVID-19 throughout the province, Premier Brian Pallister and Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced on Tuesday, March 31. Originally, the suspension of onsite classroom attendance was to continue until April 10.
“We must do everything we can to flatten the COVID curve and protect the health and well-being of all Manitobans,” said Pallister. “The decision to suspend classroom learning in school indefinitely for this school year is the easiest decision to make because it protects our children and their education – it is the right thing to do.”
In the announcement, Grade 12 students are assured they will graduate, if they were “on track to graduate”.
No student will be held back due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but students must actively engage in learning.
Teachers are continuing to work, teaching remotely, assigning work, and assessing students’ progress.
final report cards will be issued.
For students in Grade 12, provincial exams will be cancelled, but teacher assessments will be implemented.
For students in early and middle years, provincial assessments are complete for the current school year, but other assessments will continue.
“The efforts and success Manitoba teachers and educators have displayed during this public health pandemic have been inspiring,” said Goertzen. “Our government is asking for an all-hands-on-deck approach, with their assistance and with that of parents, caregivers, principals, trustees and superintendents for the benefit of all students.”
Child-care centres located in schools will continue to operate under the current conditions set out by the chief provincial public health officer. The overall plan is oriented toward the future and we will learn how to modernize education through our response to this situation, Goertzen said. The combined efforts are geared toward the reopening of classrooms, as well as toward multifaceted ways to teach and to learn after COVID-19, he added.
For more information visit www.manitoba.ca/covid19.
