Students in kindergarten to Grade 5 will be back in classrooms half-time and Grades 6 to 12 will be back 20 per cent at school as of June 1 – as long as their parents agree to this plan.
School districts will contact families by May 22 on how this plan will roll out, according to Education Minister Rob Fleming.
Grade 6 to 12 students will most likely be at school one day a week, Fleming elaborated.
The decision to send students back to school, however, will be made by parents depending on how safe they feel it is.
This part-time plan will be in place for now with the anticipation schools will be back in session full-time in September.
The announcement was made on Friday morning along with an announcement by Premier John Horgan that the province will move to ease COVID-19-related restrictions after the Victoria Day long weekend.
Strict guidelines will be in place at schools, however, with deep cleaning of schools every day and cleaning of high-touch areas twice a day.
Students and staff who feel ill, however, will be required to stay home.
Children of essential service workers and students needing additional supports will have the option to attend school full time.
