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
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.