When Will Schools Reopen?

Education Minister Patrick Faber was also asked about a timeline for the reopening of schools. In some other countries such as the UK and Mexico, schools have partially reopened. As to the resumption of classes in the classrooms, it is known that at the primary level, the school year ends the last week in June.  So with over a month to go and there are no new cases of COVID-19, will schools reopen? Faber says that it is not likely because the ministry is in discussion with various agencies to determine the new norm to classroom settings.

Patrick Faber

Patrick Faber, Minister of Education

“All is not lost in terms of this school year just yet or at least we are not ready to make that pronouncement just yet. It is looking unlikely; that is as far as I will take it. And the simple reason for that is that while we are relatively okay in terms of the situation with COVID-19, what we are not ready for yet is the new normal and how it is that we are going to return to the classroom and that will take some kind of planning and proper coordination. We are in the process, as we speak, of engaging with regional bodies such as CARPHA and even our local health authorities to decide on what that new normal is going to be. How is it that we are going to have kids returning to class? Is it that they are going to be wearing masks? What is going to be the new protocol for sanitizing the school? How is it that they are going to sit in the classroom? Are they going to be respecting a six feet or three feet or whatever level of physical distancing? All of these are questions that would have to be solved. We will have to have a proper protocol if we are to return and getting everybody prepared for that before the end of the school year is looking very unlikely at this time.”

The Education Minister warns that students and parents and teachers should not take this time as holiday and must remain engaged.