Alberta schools will remain closed for the rest of the 2019/2020 year

EDMONTON (660 NEWS) — Kids in Alberta will not be returning to school for the remainder of the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Premier Jason Kenney made that clear Thursday saying when schools were suspended in March it would be for the balance of this academic year.

“That continues to be the case. We will not be reopening schools as a general rule.”

RELATED: Provincial officials order cancellation of all schools in Alberta; 17 new COVID-19 cases

There are ongoing talks on allowing limited reopening on a “trial basis.”

“That would take into account the possibility of summer classes, specialized programs, providing schools with more detail guidance on the number of students permitted and physical distancing,” Kenney added.

Schools in the province were shut down back on March 16, and since then, students have switched to an online format to finish the remainder of the year.

The province of Quebec plans to reopen its educational facilities on May 11 outside the greater Montreal region but will reduce the size of classes with high school students remaining at home.

When asked why Alberta wasn’t taking the same approach, the premier said it was advised from the department of education and school boards because it would take upwards of three weeks to open.

“In most instances, they would not be able to [open] until the third week of May. In that case, they would only have about a month left.”

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