40 per cent of B.C. parents plan to send kids back to school in September: poll

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Fewer than half of parents in B.C. are planning to send their kids back to school this fall amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new data.

Only 40 per cent of B.C. parents polled by Leger say their children will be headed back to the classroom in just weeks, far lower than the 59 per cent national average.

However, the number of British Columbians who say they’re undecided on the matter at this time is even greater, at 48 per cent.

The decision to send their kids back to in-class instruction isn’t the only thing on parents’ minds, either.

The majority of respondents nationally — 82 per cent — say they want to see daily temperature checks on children. Agreement for such a measure by province is also high, with support hovering between 77 per cent and 87 per cent from B.C. to the Atlantic.

When it comes to other measures, 81 per cent of moms and dads say they also would like to see teachers and staff wear protective masks. That number drops when it comes to getting students to wear masks every day, though, with only 65 per cent of parents saying so.

This comes as many Canadians wait for word from their governments about what the upcoming schooling year will look like in the COVID-19 era.

B.C. has yet to lay out its plan for back to school, with the minister of education expected to address the matter any day now.

Minister Rob Fleming has hinted that elementary and middle school students could be looking at a full return to classes in September.

Schools resumed after a COVID-19 related shutdown on a part-time basis in June. Fleming has said moving forward, school will “be in a new normal situation [and] schools will look different.”