Is Manitoba seeing high levels of absenteeism now that in-person school is back?
Manitoba schools officially reopened to in-person learning on Monday following an extended winter break and a week of remote learning.
The Manitoba government said it is taking a phased-in approach with its return-to-school plan in part to give school divisions an opportunity to deal with potential absenteeism brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
CTV News Winnipeg reached out to a number of school divisions to find out their absentee numbers for the first day back:
- The Seven Oaks School Divison said 59 teachers and 47 educational assistants were absent, which is a little below normal. The school division said about 16 per cent of students are absent, which is about double the normal amount. According to the superintendent, some students are absent due to hesitancy about returning to school; because they are isolating; or they tested positive on a rapid test;
- The Pembina Trails School Division said 93 per cent of its teachers are at school on Monday. Of those that are away, the division had a 94 per cent fill rate. The Pembina Trails School Division was unable to provide student absentee numbers; and
- The Louis Riel School Division said 85 of its 1,177 teachers were absent Monday. It noted 27 of these absences were COVID-related, which includes positive cases, isolation or symptoms. The division said 2,704 students out of more than 15,645 were away for at least a portion of the day, specifying this was for any reason. It said for context, two years ago before the pandemic, there were 1,982 students away.
- The River East Transcona School Division said it had 38 teachers away sick on Monday, about four per cent of the workforce in the division. It did not have the number of student absences immediately available.
CTV News Winnipeg has reached out to the Winnipeg School Division and St. James-Assiniboia School Division for their numbers.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.