Faced with the surge in cases of the Omicron variant, the Legault government is granting a “transition period” until January 31 for the return to work in CEGEPs and universities.
Depending on what The duty has learned, Quebec maintains the return to campuses “from January 17,” as recommended by the Department of Public Health. However, establishments can offer virtual courses for two additional weeks due to the health crisis.
The Ministry of Higher Education “works in concert with the public health authorities in order to monitor the evolution of the health situation and to ensure that the resumption of activities on the campuses is safe. The fall 2021 session went well and outbreaks in higher education institutions were few and controlled, ”said ministry spokesperson Bryan St-Louis.
Even if Quebec maintains the return to class on January 17, institutions had already announced online education for the entire month of January or even until the end of February.
John Abbott College, located in western Montreal, has announced to its staff and students that distance education will be provided for the entire month of January and “likely” until mid-term on the 25th. February. After a meeting this week with representatives of Public Health, the English-speaking CEGEP concluded that “the risk of a ‘normal’ start to the session has become too great”.
Pending “details” from the Ministry of Higher Education, the establishment said it was playing it safe because of the increase in hospitalizations and “the inability of the system to detect positive cases. [de COVID-19] “.
The cabinet of Higher Education Minister Danielle McCann told the Duty that John Abbott College will have to wait for further instructions before confirming the extension of distance education for the month of February.
Elsewhere in the college and university networks, instructions vary considerably. According to our sources, the University of Sherbrooke is sticking to the directive announced by Quebec on December 30 and still provides courses in attendance as of January 17. However, several universities did not wait for the Quebec directive to announce a remote entry until January 24 (for example, UQAM) or until January 31 (University of Montreal).
Further details will follow