The Manitoba government is suspending classroom learning indefinitely for K-12 students for the remainder of the school year. The move extends the province's original announcement on March 13th which suspended classes for a week before and after spring.

Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen said their decision is being made on the advice of the chief provincial public health officer due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While classroom learning has been shut down, students will still be expected to continue their studies at home. Teachers will teach remotely, assign work, conduct assessments and prepare final report cards. During the suspension, student marks will be held at the level they were at when school was first suspended. They will have the opportunity to improve their mark through their additional learning while classes are suspended. 

No students will be held back because of COVID-19 and all those who were on track to graduate will graduate this year, according to Goertzen. However, active engagement and continued learning will be required for the remainder of the school year. "I know that this is not how Grade 12 students envisioned their final year, a year that they and their families have looked forward to and worked so hard for so long," said Goertzen.

For students in Grade 12, provincial exams will be cancelled, but teacher assessments will be implemented. For students in early and middle years, provincial assessments are complete for the current school year, but other assessments will continue. Child-care centres located in schools will continue to operate under the current conditions set out by the chief provincial public health officer.

In addressing Grade 12 students and the disappointing way their public school education will end, Goertzen pointed out that the decision to suspend in-school classes was made with their futures in mind. "I want Grade 12 students to know...that the decisions being made today are made because we know they have an amazing future ahead of them and we want to ensure that they can reach their fullest potential and that those they love the most are here to see them reach those great achievements."