World News – CA – Manitoba will require some students to take temporary remote learning after the winter break

Stephanie Tsicos
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WINNIPEG –
Manitoba mandates a two-week distance learning period for some students after the vacation break.

Manitoba’s Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced that students in grades 7 through 12 will begin temporary distance learning on Wednesday. 4, 2021, after the regularly scheduled winter break. The same distance learning period is also used for 6th grade kindergarten students. Class offered.

The province noted that the risk of COVID-19 transmission in schools remains low and wants to make returning to class as safe as possible.

“We know these decisions have different effects. We know that the switch to distance learning for two weeks for grades 7 to 12 can have an impact on families and is not made lightly, but in consultation with public health, ”said Goertzen.

“We believe and still believe that the best place for students to study is in the classroom, where it is safe to do so. ”

According to the province, there is evidence that older students are more likely to contract COVID-19, have a greater number of close contacts, and are therefore more likely to spread the virus to others. Goertzen noted that some of these broader contacts could come in the form of part-time jobs for older students.

« We reduce the risk that can arise from changing the close contacts between the students during the winter break, » said Goertzen.

« We know that student contact patterns can change at any time during this time if there is a major holiday. I mean, there is a bit of a routine now, but that routine is disrupted by the vacation break, and we’ve traditionally seen in other places and in Manitoba that have that vacation break that the COVID-19 numbers can break after that. ”

The province said nearly half of students will stay home after the break by making distance learning mandatory.

Goertzen explained that the students no longer switch to distance learning before the holidays, as this offers more preparation time for the switch to this model.

Regular personal learning is available for children in kindergarten through 6. Class as well as for students in grades 7 to 12 with special needs who must be accommodated in the classroom.

When students switched to distance learning in the spring, this was initially meant to be temporary. Goertzen was asked about the likelihood of an expansion of this distance learning model in January.

“Making predictions during a pandemic has proven to be bad business. However, I think many months later we will have a better understanding of some of the dynamics. I think we have proven that the school system can work relatively well during a pandemic and keep people safe. ”

The province’s Remote Learning Support Center will be available to assist school departments and educational staff during this distance learning period, the province said.

Deputy Education Minister Dana Rudy said there are currently around 140 hires in progress that are expected to be hired. Rudy said 120 will be working in the remote learning center while about 20 will be part of the support team.

Distance learning will be commissioned from January. 4 to 15, 2021 with students expected to be on Jan.. Will return to the classroom on January 1st. 18th.

In August, the province announced a $ 100 million safe schools fund for schools that may face extraordinary funding pressures for the 2020-21 school year.

“We are pleased to confirm the full allocation of our government’s $ 100 million investment along with $ 85. 4 million federal funds to keep our schools healthy and safe, ”said Goertzen.

The initial $ 100 million consists of provincial spending of $ 52 million and $ 48 million from school department savings from the previous school year.

The province said from October. 31 has spent more than $ 9 million on additional staff, and a total of $ 67 million is expected to be spent by June 2021.

School departments and independent schools can apply for additional funding for needs that are not met by the Safe Schools Fund allocation through the Safe Restart Contingency Fund, the province said.

« Our government is committed to protecting our schools and providing the resources necessary to ensure that students learn in these difficult times and the staff is supported, » said Goertzen.

Manitoba, pupil, school, Kelvin Goertzen, distance learning