Correction: This version of the story has been updated to reflect that the 93 Nunavut teachers are presently outside the territory. The previous version of the story, due to inaccurate information provided by the Department of Education, contained an error.
Nunavut teachers are permitted, on a voluntary basis, to enter schools in order to start developing learning packages for students since yesterday.
The schools are not accessible to students. Only up to ten staff members can access the school at a time. While at the school, all staff must adhere to the physical distancing recommendations made by Dr. Michael Patterson.
“The primary objective is to put in place some continuity of learning plans and packages for students,” said Minister of Education David Joanaise.
Since March 17, all schools in the territory have been closed due to COVID-19 concerns.
On March 31, the Department of Education launched a website for students to continue learning while remaining at home. However recognizing that not all homes have internet access or computers, the school staff is now aiming to develop paper based continuity of learning packages. This requires teachers to access resources at schools.
All school staff are expected to return to work on April 21, 2020.
During Tuesday’s press conference, Joanaise revealed that 93 Nunavut teachers are presently out of the territory. This is about eight percent of all school staff in Nunavut.
Joanaise said, these teachers were advised on whether or not they should travel outside the territory amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately however, the decision was left to the teachers, he said.
Now, all these teachers must undergo a mandatory 14 self-isolation period in the south before returning to Nunavut.
The Department of Education is currently working on bringing back the teachers from outside the territory while taking into the account this required self-isolation period.
Teachers who cannot return by April 21 are advised to contact their principal.
On April 21, Dr. Patterson, Nunavut’s chief public health officer will announce whether schools will remain closed. If schools remain closed, teachers are expected to resume operations and develop continuity of learning plans for all students. Alternatively, if schools open, operations will resume as normal.
Regardless of Dr. Patterson’s decision, departmental exams for high school students have been cancelled until the end of June.
So tell me, who are we supposed to listen to, the GN or the PM on whether teachers should return to work on April 21st. According to our prime minister, all non-essential staff are to stay at home. What a careless decision to ask the teachers to return to school during a global pandemic. Give your head a shake GN! As for the people who are saying that the teachers just wanted to go south for a break… ITS A GLOBAL PANDEMIC!!! Not a vacation!!! People are getting sick, people are dying, the nation is at a standstill. People want to be close to their families during this terrifying health pandemic spreading around the world. Besides that, out of 39000 Nunavummiut and the GN has only tested 369! Do you really believe that covid19 isn’t in Nunavut?! Out of the 3 territories Nunavut is the lowest of all 3 territories for testing! The GN declared a public health emergency and hasn’t done anything to follow through such as making sure that proper protocol regarding physical distancing and public gatherings is observed. The GN is not enforcing the physical distancing, is it mandatory or a suggestion? From my local observation, mandatory or voluntary isolation based on the honor system is not working and therefore it can turn out to be a petri dish of infection among a small community. It’s like being able to contain a house on fire versus a whole community burning. Do people need to start dying before action is taken. Can we not follow the examples being set all over the world? Nunavummiut are not immune to Covid-19! This virus will find its way here. We need to keep following strict protocols and demand that those in charge protect their citizens. Our health and safety must come before everything else!