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By Troy Gillard

Premier confirms…

Alberta schools to stay closed for remainder of academic year

May 1, 2020 | 11:21 AM

Schools in Alberta will remain closed for the remainder of the current school year.

Premier Jason Kenney made the announcement on Thursday while unveiling the province’s phased relaunch plan for Alberta’s economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We will not be re-opening the schools as a general rule for the balance of this academic year,” Kenney said, noting the decision was made in consultation with local school boards.

About eight weeks are left in the current school year, but Kenney said boards pointed out that it would likely take a lot of work to get classrooms ready for students.

“If we were to say today that they should be reopened, in most instances, they would not be able to do so until about the third week of May.”

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Kenney did note that talks are ongoing to allow limited reopening on a “trial basis,” including the possibility of summer classes.

“We are looking at whether we can, later in the summer, perhaps regain some of the time that’s been lost in this academic year by bringing the schools back earlier,” Kenney said. “Again, all of that is subject to consultation with the school boards and the advice of the chief medical officer.”

Students in Alberta have been learning online since schools were closed on March 16 due to the pandemic.