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Teachers' federations says more work needed on reopening plan

Teachers pan school plan

The head of the BC Teachers' Federation is not a fan of the province's plan to send students and teachers back to the classroom Sept. 8.

BCTF president Teri Mooring says the plan unveiled by Education Minister Rob Fleming and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry Wednesday needs more time, and a lot more work if it is going to keep everyone safe.

While acknowledging a lot of "excellent work" has gone into the plan, and the importance of returning students to the classroom, the announcement "misses the mark on several critical components, and should go back to the working groups who helped develop it.

"This plan is still a work in progress, and there is a lot of room for improvement," Mooring said in a statement following the provincial announcement.

"I am confident that, with more authentic consultation and collaboration, we can get to a much better place.

"The reopening needs to be safe, careful, and get the buy-in of teachers, support staff, parents and students. If the plan is rushed, or too many questions are left unanswered, it won't be successful."

Some of the areas the BCTF ask government to address include:

  • Authentic consultation and collaboration at the local level between school districts and local unions.
  • Health and safety measures in place and tested before staff return to the school site and before students return to class.
  • Time in September for teachers to plan, prepare, and undertake the necessary in-service training and health and safety orientations to enable equitable learning conditions and safe workplaces.
  • Smaller classes to ensure all of the children, youth, and adults that share our school spaces can adhere to the physical distancing protocols we have all been asked to maintain during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • More clarity around the proposed “cohort model” and how that will keep teachers safe while ensuring students still get their full education.

Mooring says both teachers and support staff will need time in September to make adjustments to the new structure, make sure the safety protocols work and prepare resources and lessons necessary to meet the new reality.

In response, Fleming says the BCTF has been a critical part of the restart steering committee, and values their contributions.

He says he understands, and is OK with the fact some "are not quite there yet," when it comes to the plan outlined Wednesday.

"We had a lot of discussions and similar concerns when we went to Stage 3 of the restart plan," said Fleming.

"We will get there. She has my commitment that we will continue to collaborate with her organization.

"Professional teachers are vital to make sure these health and safety protocols are effective to keeping her members safe, to keeping students safe, but also to make sure we can move back to in call instruction so that kids can resume their learning careers successfully."



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