Manitoba schools will get money for masks and more: education minister

WINNIPEG _ The Manitoba government says it will use some federal COVID-19 funding to enhance remote learning for students who can’t attend class.

But Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen is not expanding remote learning to make it an option for any student who wants it.

Goertzen says Manitoba’s $85.4 million-share of the recently announced federal cash will help ensure remote learning is available across the province to students who qualify.

That includes students with chronic health conditions who are advised by the doctors to not attend class.

Remote learning is also available for some high school students in more-crowded schools and for students whose classes have been temporarily closed due to a COVID-19 outbreak.

Goertzen has also released detailed spending allocations for specific items, such as $12 million for masks and personal protective equipment in school across Manitoba.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2020.