WINNIPEG – The province has announced a two week remote learning period for students in grades seven to 12 after the Christmas break.
Education minister Kelvin Goertzen says it’s also available to families with children from kindergarten to grade six if they want it.
“Current data indicates the risk of COVID-19 transmission in our schools remains low and we want to ensure the return to the classroom is as safe as practically possible,” said Goertzen. “By moving our grade 7 to 12 students to remote learning for the first two weeks of the new year and offering remote learning options to kindergarten to Grade 6 students, we are reducing the risk that may be posed as a result of a change in students’ close contacts during the winter break.”
During this two weeks from January 4th to 15th, close to half of the student population in Manitoba will be at home following the winter break. The government says evidence suggests that older students have a higher incidence of contracting the virus, they have a larger number of close contacts and they are more likely to transmit the virus to others as a result. Moving this group to remote learning will reduce the risk of transmission in schools while minimizing the impact on kindergarten to grade six students and their families.