While elementary and middle schools are still on track to restart in-person learning as of January 17, post-secondary schools are a different story.
The Quebec Ministry of Higher Education has told schools to return to classes no later than January 31, but that does not appear to be the case in all cases.
Things are terribly quiet at John Abbott College in Saint-Anne-de-Belleuve these days, and it looks like they will remain that way for several weeks.
“School administrators are not sure which direction Omicron’s COVID wave is taking,” said Dr. Donald Vinh, an infectious disease expert at McGill University.
In a memo sent to staff Friday morning, CEGEP said that after meeting with Montreal Public Health on Wednesday, it became clear that a “normal” start to the semester would be too risky.
“With the evolution of hospitalizations caused by the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and the current inability of our health system to assess and track positive cases, the risk of attempting a ‘normal start’ to the semester has become unacceptable”, it reads in the signed memorandum. by CEO John Halpin and Academic Dean Gordon Brown.
John Abbott employees are asked to plan for classes to be primarily online “probably through February.”
“If you’re going to bring students and faculty together on campus, it has to be as safe and secure as possible,” Vihn said.
The Higher Education Ministry told Global News that it had spoken with schools on Friday.
“The ministry today sent a communication to its establishments to confirm that the return to face-to-face classes, in accordance with public health recommendations, will take place as of January 17, 2022,” the ministry spokesperson said in an email, Bryan St-Louis.
He added that schools would be allowed a “transition period” and could delay their returns to school until January 31 at the latest.
Vanier College sent a memo to staff Friday saying that the learning will remain online until the end of the month, except for essential lab work.
“Given the most recent information from the Health Authorities and the Ministry, we will move to a mainly online teaching format during the first two weeks of the winter semester, from January 17 to 30, 2022. The only exceptions to classes in line will be an ‘essential’ course or lab work approved by the faculty dean or director of continuing education, ”wrote CEO John McMahon.
Read more:
Quebec schools will reopen for in-person learning as scheduled on January 17
Dawson College spokeswoman Donna Varrica told Global News that the school is still consulting with other CEGEPs about its start date in person and a decision has yet to be made.
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Universities are also evaluating their options.
“I think it’s really necessary for students to be present in classes,” said Marilla Elana Carillo, 24, who came to Montreal from Mexico to study animal science at McGill’s MacDonald campus.
She says her teachers tell her to expect a lot of online learning, but with the proper security protocols, she would rather attend in person.
“I think you can focus more on your face-to-face classes. It is not the same to learn it through a computer, “he told Global News.
McGill says that most of his instruction will be online until January 23. In a statement, it called its 2022 winter planning “flexible.”
“Uncertainty around the impact of the new Omicron variant remains high, however we intend to return to in-person education as soon as possible and when government directives allow,” said the McGill spokeswoman, Katherine Gombay.
Labs, music, and other difficult educational activities to do online will continue to take place in person.
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“We are monitoring the situation very closely and we are prepared to act quickly,” Gombay said.
McGill freshman Madison Albert wants to be in class, but being an immunology and microbiology student, she understands the need to learn online for now.
“It is much more difficult to absorb material online,” he said. “But speaking to people I know, I think we all feel a bit of collective social responsibility to try to help stop transmission in any way that we can.”
Concordia says there is a strong possibility that it will extend distance teaching and learning beyond January 20.
“We are evaluating this at this time,” said spokeswoman Vannina Maestracci.
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