Dear First Nations Schools,
As the school year draws to a close, the BC Centre for Disease Control has advised that their K-12 guidance issued in March 2022 can be used to inform planning for September 2022. The recommended prevention measures are not expected to change significantly, based on current understanding of COVID-19.
Both public health and the Ministry of Education and Child Care will be working to revise guidance documents for K-12 schools over the summer. The Province has advised that updated K-12 guidance documents are expected to become available mid-August to inform planning for the 2022/23 school year. The First Nations Education Steering Committee and First Nations Schools Association will share new information as it becomes available and update our resources for First Nations schools accordingly.
In addition, the Ministry is advising public schools and non-First Nations Independent schools to continue to follow the current Provincial COVID-19 Communicable Disease Guidelines for K-12 Settings for summer school and year-round educational programs during July and August.
FNESC and FNSA fully respect the authority of individual First Nations to make decisions about the operation of First Nations schools in the best interests of their students, schools, and communities. This includes the authority to decide if and how to use these guidelines and guidance documents to inform planning, and if and when to reopen their schools for in-person learning.
Find our resources related to COVID-19 at www.fnesc.ca/covid19 and www.fnsa.ca/covid19.
Wishing you the best for the summer season ahead.