Classes have been suspended for K to 12 schools in 91原创, as well as for post secondary programs at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Trinity Western University.
Premier John Horgan announced on Tuesday morning that classes would be suspended indefinitely to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Students were already on spring break at the time of the announcement, but their time off will be extended past the previous March 30th mark.
The news comes as the province has four deaths and more than 100 cases of COVID-19 in B.C. Gatherings of 50 or more people have been banned and health officials are telling people to stay in Canada. On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Canadians to 鈥渟tay home鈥 if at all possible.
Lisa Drozda, a resident of 91原创 Township, had to abruptly cancel her family鈥檚 16-day trip to Japan that was several years in the making as a result of the coronavirus.
She said she was able to get most of the flights, accommodations, and tours refunded, but said the cancellation is still certainly a disappointment.
鈥淲e want to try and get it going again in the next couple years 鈥 we had an international student who had stayed with us and we want to visit them and their family,鈥 she said.
Now her two daughters 鈥 ages 10 and 12 鈥 are without class and without spring break plans. Drozda said her family decided to self-isolate at a family-owned trailer in Parksville on Vancouver Island.
鈥淲e hopped on the ferry 鈥 stayed in our car of course 鈥 and have been socially isolating on the beach. It鈥檚 pretty good,鈥 Drozda assured.
READ MORE: B.C. to suspend K-12 schools due to COVID-19
Her daughters have been keeping busy collecting shells and driftwood for painting projects. One daughter made Kraft Dinner for the first time the other night 鈥 turning the turbulent time into what she called a life skill session.
But as holiday time winds down, Drozda said her daughters will be getting an education, even if classes aren鈥檛 in session.
鈥淚 work part time and right now my husband is working from home. With distance learning, we鈥檒l keep them up with that. I鈥檝e bought curriculum books from Costco and they鈥檒l read a few chapter books. I鈥檓 not too worried about it,鈥 Drozda explained.
鈥淢y daughter has a speech project for school and I told her to just keep working on her speech because you never know when classes will start up again,鈥 she added.
It鈥檚 a different story for other families who weren鈥檛 prepared for closures; with many public facilities shuttered and outings discouraged, some parents could be scrambling for more time off work to care for their kids after spring break ends.
Daycares are currently not closed, but Premier Horgan said in a Tuesday conference that it could likely change.
Education Minister Rob Fleming said that some schools will act as emergency child care spaces for kids of essential workers so health care and front line workers are not pulled away from responding to the novel coronavirus.
Post-secondary classes cancelled
Trinity Western University (TWU) announced that in-person classes would be suspended effective Tuesday, March 17, and replaced with online classes wherever possible for the next two weeks.
TWU鈥檚 facilities in Bellingham and Richmond have also suspended in-person classes, while daily chapel services offered by the christian university, will also be delivered online and via podcasts.
In an online statement, TWU assured students living in on-campus housing may choose to return home or to remain in residence 鈥 students who remain on campus will be well supported while the physical campus will remain open.
TWU additionally said they have rescheduled their upcoming spring graduation ceremony 鈥 set to be held on April 25鈥 to now take place in combination with fall graduation on November 7.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) said, effective March 17, KPU will pause in-person instruction until further notice; except in the Faculty of Trades and Technology, and Horticulture Levels 1 and 4.
Alan Davis, president and vice chancellor of the post secondary school, said due to the technical and hands-on nature of those programs, in-person instruction will continue, but proper social distancing measures will be in effect in the classrooms, shops and labs.
All KPU campuses will remain open, including all libraries and services functioning at their regular hours.
鈥淒r. Florkowski and KPU Provost Dr. Sandy Vanderburgh have been working with our deans to develop a plan to transition from face-to-face instruction for the remainder of the semester,鈥 Davis added in the statement.
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Email: ryan.uytdewilligen@langleyadvancetimes.com
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