Manitoba school kids will be going back to class a few days later after the winter break.
The provincial education ministry announced Dec. 22, on the last day of classes before students and staff go on holidays, that students will head back to class on Jan. 10, not Jan. 6 as originally expected.
The ongoing expansion of the omicron COVID-19 variant was announced as the region for the change. According to the ministry and education minister Cliff Cullen, the change is to "give public health officials additional time to assess the risk of the omicron variant in Manitoba and what changes might be needed on the return to school in early January."
“As we begin the holiday break across Manitoba schools, the Manitoba government would like to thank students, teachers, school staff, school leaders, school divisions, parents and caregivers for ensuring schools have been safe and open for in-class learning since September. But right now, things are changing rapidly and public health has recommended a slight delay to the return to school. This will give them more time to better assess the risk and look at options for the new year.”
Despite the change, the ministry expects teachers to arrive at work Jan. 6 as originally expected for "professional learning and to prepare for the continuation of learning". Most child care centres will stay open for kids under age 12.
