The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation is pleased to hear in-person learning will be returning in September.

The provincial government made the announcement on Tuesday, saying they will be releasing protocols to school divisions as early as next week.

However, STF President Patrick Maze said he just wants to ensure both students and staff are protected.

“We have lots of concerns, and members are quite nervous about returning if there aren’t proper Personal Protective Equipment and various things that are required in order to make them safe from the virus,” Maze said. “Overall, I think it’s good.”

Maze said virtual learning has exposed technological barriers some students face.

“Once we get back into the classroom, a lot of those inequities are reduced, and I think that’s important as well,” Maze said. “Some students go home, and they don’t have access to technology, and they don’t have WiFi and all of the learning opportunities that other students have, and so it’s important that school be there for everyone, and make sure that everyone has a more equitable opportunity to learn.”

Maze said if students are protected, then for the most part, teachers would be too.

“There’s lots of difficulties, and lots of challenges that are going to need to be worked out,” Maze said. “We know that lots of schools are at, or over capacity with students, and so practicing effective social distancing is going to be challenging and there’s going to be lots of work that needs to be done in those regards.”