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Kindergarten to Grade 12 classes suspended indefinitely

Manitoba’s kindergarten to Grade 12 schools will suspend in-school classes indefinitely, provincial Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced March 31. The decision was made on the advice of provincial chief public health officer Dr.
Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen
Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen

Manitoba’s kindergarten to Grade 12 schools will suspend in-school classes indefinitely, provincial Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced March 31.

The decision was made on the advice of provincial chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin, Goertzen said.

Grade 12 provincial exams are cancelled and students will still get report cards.

Final marks will not fall below the level they were on the last official day of classes March 23 but students will have opportunities to improve their marks by completing additional work before the end of the school year.

Kindergarten to Grade 8 teachers will engage their students using existing communications tools, Goertzen said. For Grade 9 to grade 12, online and distance learning resources will be used for teachers to assign and students to complete work.

The education minister specifically addressed the effect that the suspension of classes will have on Grade 12 students, noting that any student who was on track to graduate will do so.

“I know this is not how Grade 12 students envisioned their final year,” Goertzen said. “No students will be held back because of COVID-19.”

Thompson Teachers’ Association president Cathy Pellizarro said the safety of School District of Mystery Lake students and staff was the most important thing to her and her fellow teachers.

“We need to all work together during these difficult times,” she said. “Thompson teachers will to continue to serve their students and provide them with the best education possible under these circumstances. This includes using online learning. However, in Thompson, technology is not available to all students so teachers are being creative. I am proud of all teachers for taking this new challenge.”

Manitoba Official Opposition and NDP leader Wab Kinew said the province should commit to no one in the public education system losing their job as a result of coronavirus pandemic precautions.

"Every person who works in a school or child care centre plays a role in our students' education, from teachers and EAs [educational assistants] to bus drivers,” Said Kinew. “Now is not the time for job cuts or layoffs — putting people out of work now will only make things worse. The province should guarantee every person in the education sector their job so kids can get the support they need once they return to the classroom. And the province should guarantee it will not cut funding for education during this time — in fact supports should be offered to parents so all kids can fully participate in e-learning.”

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