Families worthy of remote-learning support: NDP

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This article was published 09/01/2022 (984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Families forced to rearrange daily routines, find temporary child care and pay out of pocket for supplies while schools are in remote learning deserve government compensation, the official Opposition says.

As students across Manitoba logged their first day of remote learning Monday, NDP Leader Wab Kinew called on the Progressive Conservative government to provide families with a cash injection to help cover expenses each time schools are forced to go remote.

“This is money that would be provided to parents to use in the way that they know best so they can ensure a safe return to school,” Kinew told reporters at the Manitoba Legislative Building. “Whatever needs that your family has to get through this remote learning period and then back into the classroom, we think that it’s important for government to be there with some assistance.”

The NDP’s proposal includes providing $500 per child to families in remote learning; families of children with exceptional needs would receive $750 per child. The universal benefit would be available when public health orders require a school or classroom to go remote.

Kinew said money could be spent on enhancing internet access, computers or tablets, subscriptions for educational programs, child care, or rapid tests and personal protective equipment.

“There is a real chance that some schools may have to go remote again in the future,” Kinew said. “Putting this benefit into place would, I think, help families to be able to respond to a situation like that.”

The party’s education critic, Nello Altomare, also called on the government to improve public reporting on COVID-19 cases and exposures related to schools.

“We have the data, let’s get it out there instead of having people having to crowdsource stuff and make decisions on the fly,” Altomare said. “Let’s have it come from a really credible source like the government that collects that data and let’s get it out to parents so that they can make decisions.”

The NDP also called for the government to begin collecting positive rapid test results from the public. The majority of Manitobans seeking COVID-19 tests are now being given rapid antigen tests to use at home, the results of which are not tracked.

Public health officials request some people in vulnerable sectors, including school-age children and teens and education staff, return to COVID-19 test sites to receive a PCR test if they test positive on a rapid test.

“We do need to formalize and use the resources of government to ensure that the rapid tests that are taking place across Manitoba right now are captured in a way that will help Manitobans in the future,” Kinew said.

In anticipation of increased absenteeism among teachers when in-class education returns, Altomare said substitute teachers should also be offered contracts to keep them in the classroom for the remainder of the school year.

“We know when that gets going we have to keep our classrooms as consistent as possible and we know by having more (human resources) available we’re able to do that,” Altomare said.

The NDP also called for improved accessibility of high quality masks and tests for staff in the education system, upgraded ventilation systems in schools, and the addition of more mental health counsellors.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca