Office of the Official Opposition
For Immediate Release

St. John's, NL (August 17, 2020) – PC Opposition Leader, Ches Crosbie, and PC Opposition Critic for Education and Early Childhood Development, Craig Pardy, are giving the schools plan “A Safe Return to School” a failing grade.

“Both the Minister and Premier-designate were absent from the announcement. This lack of leadership is appalling and speaks for itself. Every other government in the country has taken leadership on a back-to-school plan, yet this Liberal government has disappeared” stated Crosbie.

Pardy, a former teacher and principal agreed.

“Parents and students waited 155 days for a plan, which will now have over 6,000 children trying to find their own way to school. This raises a number of safety concerns. Courtesy stops which include all 577 stops Government added citing student safety have been eliminated. This will leave parents scrambling to make arrangements which in many cases is simply not possible, let alone safe. Now it is “passed” to School Administrators to do it in 24 days with NO additional resources” said Pardy.

“There was also no mention of children with exceptionalities in the plan, no mention of how curriculum lost since March will be made up this coming school year and no mention of reducing class size. Students will be expected to clean shared equipment in-between use. This all raises many more questions and concerns” added Pardy.

Contacts:

Denise Tubrett

Chief of Staff

(p) 1.709.729.6105

(c) 1.709.725.2594

DeniseTubrett@gov.nl.ca

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