There are more questions than answers at this point on what B.C. teachers can expect when they return to classrooms without students after spring break.
Minister of Education Rob Fleming suspended all K-12 instruction indefinitely on Tuesday after a public health emergency was declared in the province.
While the ministry is expecting school districts to ensure learning continues outside the classroom, right now, there are many unanswered questions, says Liz Baverstock, president of the Richmond Teachers’ Association.
And with the coronavirus situation evolving every day, it’s hard to envision what March 30, when students were supposed to return from spring break, will look like for teachers when there are no students.
“Nobody has done this before,” she said. “Really, I’m just focusing on communicating with members, letting them know we’re here but we don’t have answers.”
In a letter to parents, Richmond school Supt. Scott Robinson said it’s unsure when school will be in session again.
“We understand that parents and students will have many questions and we ask for your patience as we plan for next steps and await further details from the provincial government,” he said in the letter.
This could mean students don’t attend school in-person after the break, with some speculating the closure could continue until the end of the school year.
Fleming, said school districts are looking at how learning can move online, but emphasized that this will be different for primary, intermediate and secondary students. Grade 12 students will be able to graduate, however, he added.
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