When it comes to wearing a mask when classes resume next month, the government is putting the decision in the hands of Saskatchewan’s school divisions.
While many are saying the government should implement mandatory mask usage, Education Minister Gord Wyant told reporters on Tuesday it is tough to establish a province-wide policy because of the diversity Saskatchewan has.
“Every school is different, and every school division is different.’ Wyant said at the Legislature. “We really think in terms of ensuring there is adequate protection by students that the local school divisions in concert with their local health officers are the best to determine where masks are appropriate and where they are not.”
Additional guidance for divisions wishing to move to Level 2 of the Safe Schools plan was given on Tuesday. It is guidance the province says is being made to provide consistent direction to school divisions which implement specific plans and measures best suited to their location and facility.
The recommendations being made would see students in Grades 4 through 12 wear a mask in high traffic areas, such as in hallways and on buses.For those students in Grades 9 through 12, masks may be required in classrooms where it is not possible to maintain physical distancing or where students are outside of the cohort within their classroom, as well as all teachers and staff.
For those high schools that have a high density population, further discussions with Saskatchewan’s 27 school divisions have resulted in factors being developed for those considering Level 3. Factors that would be considered include the location, structure and population density of the school. School divisions may consider additional options, including alternating days for high school students.
Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, has also directed the following additional measures to be included in all division plans:
• teacher and class cohorting, with a focus on cohorting teachers to a limited number of students and keeping students in one cohort as much as possible;
• in elementary school settings, students’ cohorts will be the classroom;
• in high school settings where cohorting is more complex, school divisions will be encouraged to find creative solutions to move students in cohorts where possible;
• front-facing instruction for students, any exceptions will be identified for approval by public health; and
• staggered start times, breaks and end times, where possible.
Students are encouraged to bring their own non-medical cloth masks.
The guidance means little according to the NDP with Education critic Carla Beck saying Saskatchewan still has the worst back-t0-school plan amongst the provinces.
Beck says Saskatchewan families have done what has been asked of them during the pandemic. The least we expect is a real plan to get our kids back to school safely. It is incredibly frustrating that once again the government has chosen to direct school divisions to “find creative solutions” rather to provide clear guidance or funding on cohorting and physical distancing.
