Sask. Ministry of Education says schools will stay closed for 2019-20

School’s out in Saskatchewan — at least in person.

In a statement Thursday, the Ministry of Education confirmed that schools will remain closed for the rest of the 2019-20 school year.

Classrooms across the province were shut March 20 as part of the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The government said at the time it wasn’t sure if schools would reopen before the end of the school year — and now it’s official.

“When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Saskatchewan, it impacted everyone in the education sector,” Saskatchewan’s education minister, Gordon Wyant, said in the media release. “We needed to move quickly and decisively in order to protect our students, staff and families, and within a matter of weeks, a supplemental learning framework was created to provide students with learning opportunities from their home.

In a teleconference with media on Thursday, Wyant touted the success school divisions have seen when it comes to delivering courses online.

“We had a report from one school division where they had 90 per cent of their kids participate in that supplemental learning.”

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Education said the decision to keep schools closed was made on the advice of Dr. Saqib Shahab, the province’s chief medical health officer. Based on that recommendation, the Response Planning Team told school divisions that in-class learning wouldn’t happen again until at least September.

“As students continue to learn remotely, we encourage students and families to continue to take advantage of the supplemental learning opportunities being provided by teachers,” the spokesperson said.

The Response Planning Team is trying to determine what in-class learning will look like in the 2020-21 school year. How classes resume — and when — depends on public health orders and restrictions put in place to limit the potential spread of the virus.

“(The response planning team) is working very, very hard analyzing what different scenarios in the event classes can commence in September and in the event classes can’t commence in September,” Wyant said.

Wyant said there is a possibility school divisions open in a staggered way instead of all at once.

At the time schools were closed, the government said all students would move on to the next grade level in the 2020-21 school year. That meant Grade 8 students would be off to high school in the next school year and Grade 12 students would be moving on from secondary school.

For students who wished to improve their marks, Wyant said supplemental learning opportunities have been provided.

“We know there were a number of students that were concerned about that, that they wanted to continue their studies to improve their marks to get the full foundation that they need for entrance into university,” Wyant said.

In a letter to families posted on its website, Regina Catholic Schools said officials are making plans for farewells and graduations, but COVID-19 restrictions will have to be followed in those events.

The ministry noted that virtual graduation ceremonies or even postponements are possible as well.

“We know that graduation ceremonies and celebrations are important to so many families, and we extend a warm congratulations to all of Saskatchewan’s Grade 12 students and we wish them the very best in their futures,” Wyant said.

In the meantime, there still are opportunities for students to learn remotely.

“Our staff will continue to work with your children in the manner which has been established,” the Regina Catholic Schools letter said. “Thank you for participating as much as you are able. We truly believe this learning will benefit all our students as they move into the 2020-2021 school year.”