The Saskatchewan Teachers鈥� Federation is disappointed in the new measures announced by the Saskatchewan provincial government on November 13 and remained deeply concerned about what this could mean for schools, students and staff in the coming weeks.
鈥淎ll communities and all school populations are at risk,鈥� said Patrick Maze, President of the Saskatchewan Teachers鈥� Federation. 鈥淭hese measures leave staff and students in elementary schools and schools with student populations less than 600 vulnerable and exposed. All staff and students require a safe school environment.鈥�
Maze called for masks to become mandatory for all staff and students, including Pre-K to Grade 3 and for school divisions to move immediately to Level 3.
鈥淐lassrooms are crowded and there are numerous accounts of significant delays in contact tracing. This is creating significant health risks for the staff and students who are left unprotected,鈥� said Maze. 鈥淩ecommendations are insufficient. We need clear, consistent directives from government.鈥�
Maze added that the messages shared by Saskatchewan鈥檚 Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Shahab, the Saskatchewan Health Authority鈥檚 Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shaw and Saskatchewan Health Authority鈥檚 CEO Scott Livingstone foreshadowed a grim future. 鈥淥ur hope is to avoid a full closure of schools again. The education system is fragile and its success is key to the economic health of our province.鈥�
The Saskatchewan Teachers鈥� Federation stands by its position that masks be made mandatory province-wide and that school divisions suspend extracurricular activities, restrict community-based activities in schools and limit the number of schools each staff member is assigned to.
