Kitikmeot and Qikiqtani schools move to Stage 1
News Release
Kitikmeot and Qikiqtani schools move to Stage 1
Iqaluit, Nunavut (February 3, 2021) – Starting Thursday, February 4, 2021, all schools in the Kitikmeot and Qikiqtani regions will move to Stage 1 of the 2020-21 Opening Plan for Nunavut Schools. All schools in these regions will be open full-time for in-school instruction to students from Kindergarten to Grade 12, five days per week.
“In-class learning and routine are critical in the development of children and youth. Keeping students, families, and school staff healthy and safe is the Department of Education’s highest priority,” said Minister of Education, David Joanasie. “At the same time, it’s important to recognize the negative mental and physical health impacts that reduced in-school instruction can have on our communities. I look forward to students in these regions returning to school full-time.”
According to Nunavut’s Chief Public Health Officer, current public health evidence and experience around COVID-19 supports the concept that children and youth can attend school in a manner that maximizes their health and continues to minimize risks. All schools will continue to follow established health and safety measures such as, enhanced cleaning and custodial measures and ensuring student and staff who are ill stay home.
“It’s vital to balance the risk of infection and transmission of COVID-19 with the harms of school closures on children’s physical, developmental, and mental health,” said Nunavut’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Michael Patterson. “Based on the current status of COVID-19 in the Kitikmeot and Qikiqtani regions, there is no public health evidence to support ongoing school closures at this time. I’m confident that students and staff in Kitikmeot and Qikiqtani regional schools can return safely to the classroom.”
The 2020-21 Opening Plan for Nunavut Schools: Health and Safety is available at: https://gov.nu.ca/education/information/2020-21-opening-plan-nunavut-sc….
For the latest information on Nunavut’s current public health restrictions, go to: https://www.gov.nu.ca/health/information/nunavuts-path.
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Media Contact:
Troy Rhoades
A/Manager, Communications
Department of Education
Government of Nunavut
867-975-5680
@email