Education Minister Gordon Wyant says he is pleased with how supplemental learning has been going. (Brady Lang/650 CKOM)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

COVID-19 and education

Saskatchewan students will continue to learn from home

May 7, 2020 | 5:09 PM

The provincial government has made it official; students will not be returning to the classroom this school year and in-class learning has been suspended until at least September.

In an email to Regina’s 980 CJME Thursday, a spokesperson for the province’s Ministry of Education confirmed students won’t be returning in the 2019-20 school year.

“On the advice of Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer, the Response Planning Team has informed Saskatchewan’s school divisions that in-class learning will not resume for the remainder of the school year,” the spokesperson said.

In a media release sent out Thursday afternoon, Minister of Education Gordon Wyant said administrators and teachers had done good work transitioning to different learning models and was happy with how the process has played out.

“I am very pleased with the success we have seen using this new way of delivering education to our students and I commend teachers, staff and parents for adapting quickly and enthusiastically,” he said.

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Prince Albert Catholic School Division Director of Education Lorel Trumier said the decision made by the province did not come without input from local officials.

“It’s been weeks of discussing elements, again among boards among administration and ministry and government,” she said.

With students not returning to schools this school year, Trumier said they will be turning their focus to getting ready for the fall. The director of education explained they will be looking to engage parents and try to find out what concerns they may have.

Trumier stressed schools will be willing to work with parents to alleviate any concerns they may have due to COVID-19.

“Our most important thing we can be doing for our community of course is ensuring that everyone is safe,” she said.

Robert Bratvold, director of education for Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division said the government’s announcement is good as before there was uncertainty. He said his division was informed of the decision when they were contacted by the ministry of education.

Bratvold said the next step for them is to continue to work to engage students in supplemental learning. He added it could be more challenging now with their no longer being a prospect of getting back to class.

“That transition will really just continue and refine that process,” he said.

Looking towards the fall, Bratvold said it is too early to talk about what it will look like in terms of educational delivery. He said all they know for sure is they will be looking to deliver programming to their students.

“We’ll be here, students and families will be here and we’ll find ways to connect them,” he said.

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With files from 980 CJME

MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn