The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Education, today welcomed students in the Kindergarten to Grade 12 and post-secondary education systems back to school.
Many adjustments have been made across the education system in Newfoundland and Labrador amidst the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that students of all ages can resume their learning and enjoy a successful school year.
Students in the K-12 education system are returning to classes under Scenario 1 of the provincial re-entry plan, which is the resumption of in-school classes with health measures. Working with public health, the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District and the Conseil scolaire francophone provincial de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador have prepared detailed plans for the reopening of schools. The Provincial Government has announced added measures, including additional teaching resources, technology supports, and resources for additional cleaning and hygiene in schools.
Public and private post-secondary training institutions have undertaken significant work to prepare for the safe delivery of programming, working closely with provincial health officials. Memorial University and College of the North Atlantic will continue with primarily remote online programming through at least fall 2020. Thirteen Private Training Institutions are planning a full return to in-class and practical training; nine will continue remote/online programming with limited onsite practical training.
Further information on is provided in the backgrounder below.
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“The health and safety of our students, staff and educators is a priority. Parents and educators can be confident in the planning and measures being put in place for a successful school year. I want to thank the leadership of the K-12 school districts and our post-secondary institutions, as well as all educators and staff, for your commitment to our children, youth and young adults during this extraordinary time. By continuing to work together, we can help ensure a positive experience for everyone.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Education
Le ministre Osborne souhaite la bienvenue aux élèves à l’occasion d’une nouvelle année scolaire
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Media contact
Tina Coffey
Education
709-729-1906, 687-9903
tcoffey@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Adjustments Made to Ensure Students Can Resume Learning during COVID-19
K-12 Education System
- Additional busing to accommodate all eligible students;
- New virtual teaching positions;
- Creating new public health nursing positions;
- Additional Occupational Health and Safety resources;
- Adding 15 administrators;
- Adding 25 guidance counsellors;
- Hiring 70 substitute teachers on term contracts for specific schools;
- Increasing custodian hours from five to seven hours per day;
- Hiring up to 25 additional custodians;
- Increasing student assistant hours;
- Providing 5,100 laptops for every teacher in Kindergarten to Grade 12 and 30,000 Chromebooks for all junior high and high school students;
- Providing cleaning supplies to busing contractors;
- Providing masks to students, teachers and staff;
- Ensuring a robust supply of disinfection materials; and
- Putting safeguards in high traffic areas.
Further information on the return to classes is available here.
Post-secondary Education System
Memorial University’s COVID-19 Pandemic Plan and College of the North Atlantic’s COVID-19 Pandemic Plan.
Students attending Private Training Institutions are advised to contact their institution directly for further information about their COVID-19 pandemic plans.