Nearly 60,000 students returned to class Monday

The B.C. government says nearly 60,000 students returned to school on Monday for the first day of inclass instruction since classes were suspended two months ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the B.C. school restart plan, students in kindergarten to Grade 5 can go to school half-time (such as on alternating days), while those in Grades 6-12 can attend classes one day a week.

Education Minister Rob Fleming says about one-third of B.C. students showed up for the voluntary part-time classes.

“That’s fantastic, and teachers are supporting the other kids who don’t return through the continuation of remote online learning,” said Fleming, who added that 90 per cent of B.C.’s teachers are returning to schools this week.

To ensure physical distancing, schedules have been staggered, desks have been moved apart, and hand-sanitizing stations have been installed throughout the school.

Recess and lunch breaks are also being staggered, as are student drop-offs by parents, who aren’t allowed inside the schools.

“It’s about physical distancing first and foremost. It’s about frequent hand washing and hand hygiene. It’s about cleaning high-contact surfaces regularly at least twice a day in a school setting. It’s about deep-cleaning protocols,” said Fleming.

Fleming expects students will be learning through a combination of in-class and online instruction when school starts up in the fall.

“It’s likely that we’ll have a hybrid system until we have a vaccine and until the pandemic is officially over,” he said.