File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart

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WE’RE A FEW DAYS INTO the return to school for K-12 students in B.C., yet most parents don’t feel any more assured of their children’s protection from COVID-19 and the fast-spreading Omicron variant. Many educators are also worried about their health and safety in this latest wave of the pandemic.

People in B.C. have been waiting for this government to provide a clear and structured plan for returning to classrooms, but have yet to see it. Instead, the NDP seems content to just ‘go with the flow’ and hope for the best. That’s not good enough.

This is a government that promised to make much-needed ventilation upgrades to improve air quality in our schools. Well, where are they? How many schools have requested these improvements? How many have received them? What more needs to be done, and what is the timeline to complete these projects?

Will teachers have access to enhanced protection measures like N95 masks? If not, why not?

When will parents get more details on what exposure detection and notification will now look like in our schools? And what about the use of rapid tests, considering we have more than a million of them sitting in storage? Will they be used in our schools to ensure students and teachers remain healthy, and to help families and educators make informed decisions about staying home to keep others safe?

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If students do have to stay home from school, what steps is this government taking should there be a need to transition to distance learning? Is an online system ready to go in the event of a sudden closure of a classroom or entire school? Can students be assured they won’t fall behind in their studies?

These are the types of questions I will continue to put in front of Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside on behalf of students, parents and educators who shouldn’t find themselves confused, scared and lacking answers as we enter calendar year three of this pandemic. They all deserve better from this NDP government.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.