The first week of the return to school in person was done in disorder, lament the opposition groups in the National Assembly, who accuse the Minister of Education of slipping away at the worst time.
“The teachers suspected that the air was bad. They have confirmation. ” Like The duty this week, Québec solidaire MNA Christine Labrie collected her share of testimonials from teachers worried about the quality of the air in their classrooms this week.
Since Tuesday, the day of the return to school in person, the inbox of the elected official from Sherbrooke has been flooded with photos from CO readers.2 installed in schools this winter. Many of them show inadequate rates. “Then the only answer we give to teachers is to open the windows,” she said disappointed in an interview on Friday.
The Ministry of Education estimates that the rate of CO2 in the air of a room meets the standard as long as it remains below the threshold of 1500 parts per million (ppm). Above this level, school service centers ask teachers to ensure air circulation by opening windows and doors.
“I am told that it takes tuques, gloves. We have to keep the coats. I have some who say that the temperature has dropped to 14º C in the class, ”protested Ms. Labrie on the phone.
Still safe?
In a press release published on Friday, the Minister of Education, Jean-François Roberge, agreed that the application of the measures in class should not be done “to the detriment of the comfort of the students, particularly in very cold weather”.
Even with higher readings, “occupant safety is not […] not compromised” as long as CO levels2 do not exceed 5000 ppm over eight hours, assured the ministry. “Ventilation is an additional measure to the measures already in place, such as wearing a mask, distancing and isolation measures in the event of COVID-19”, we can read.
However, in the eyes of the PQ spokesperson for education, Véronique Hivon, the measures in force in the classrooms are no longer enough. Especially since Quebec has already played in this film last year.
“It was avoidable. Put CO readers2, this does not correct the problem. And it is not with 400 air exchangers for tens of thousands of classes that we were going to get there, ”she said.
This week, the ministry ensured in an exchange with The duty that it would carry out work in the classrooms with long-term ventilation problems. “In the summer, when the students are not there, yes, it’s time to do work”, launched the elected liberal Marwah Rizqy, Friday.
“But it takes a short-term solution. When the house is burning, you don’t wonder what garden hose to use to put out the fire,” she added, referring to the government’s hesitation to send air purifiers with HEPA filters to schools.
“He should be omnipresent”
Christine Labrie accuses Minister Roberge of showing “a very serious lack of respect” towards teachers and students by reopening classes under these conditions. Like her opposition colleagues, she insists on sending N95 masks to teachers.
At the end of a hectic week in the school network, Ms. Hivon demands that the minister make a public appearance as soon as possible. “It is inexplicable that he is not at the front. It should be ubiquitous,” she said.
The elected member of the Coalition avenir Québec has not held an official press briefing since January 5. He was participating this week in a parliamentary committee studying his bill on the student protector, but did not take the opportunity to address the start of the winter school year.