By Mata Press Service

Johanna Pabon came to Canada from Venezuela in June of 2019 with her two children.

Her daughter, Maria, is entering Grade 11, while her son, Eduardo, is entering Grade 6.

For Maria and Eduardo, whose first language is Spanish, navigating online learning at home was difficult and frustrating – and for their mother Johanna, it was hard to help her children with technology she had never used in her own education.

“As a mother, it was difficult to help them because I did not have experience with online learning. The lack of tools for how to handle new, online programs was very hard,” Johanna said.

Both children are now back to school in-person and seeing their friends again, though the family has concerns about health and safety due to COVID-19. However, the challenges of remote education outweigh the potential health risks for them.

“I didn’t like it because I didn’t have a teacher online, it was just homework and learning online but without having a teacher…and at the beginning my English was lower than it is now and it was very difficult to understand” said Eduardo.

These new Canadians are not alone in their classroom struggle with remote classrooms

and difficulties of navigating online learning.

According to a new back-to-school survey by MOSAIC of more than 500 newcomer families, 72% of families said they needed additional support with online learning, while 45% of respondents identified needing support with accessing Internet or a device such as a computer or tablet.

Despite the majority of respondents saying they planned to or were thinking of sending their children back to school in-person, an overwhelming 70% of survey participants also stated concern for their child and family’s health with the return to in-person education.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a digital divide for many newcomer families, particularly when language barriers exist said MOSAIC, one of the largest settlement non-profit organizations in Canada.

Last June, MOSAIC CEO Olga Stachova participated in the provincial government’s budget consultations and recommended the formation of a digital strategy that was inclusive to the needs of newcomer families in British Columbia.

The results of this back-to-school survey also highlight MOSAIC’s continued call to action and active work with partner organizations to remove barriers and improve access to digital and online services.

“We see, through our direct service to vulnerable clients, the challenge that lack of access to high-speed internet connection or a working digital device, coupled with low digital skills, and lack of fluency in English or French, can create in terms of accessing vital social programs and benefits,” said Stachova.

Using data from the back-to-school survey, MOSAIC staff in Family and Settlement Services will work to address the needs that have been identified and engage in ongoing advocacy for the wellbeing of newcomers, She said.

Settlement workers will also continue to work with newcomer families to ensure they have the latest local information in their own language as the pandemic continues.

Last month the federal government announced $242 million to support BC schools to hire additional teachers and staff, as well as ensuring remote learning options are available in every

This was in addition to an earlier announcement of $45.6 million by the province to pay for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and enhanced cleaning

The BC Teachers Federation (BCTF) in a recent poll found that a significant majority of teachers say health and safety measures inadequate

The poll gathered 8,952 responses, representing classroom teachers (70%), specialist teachers (21%), teachers teaching on call (5%) and other teaching positions, across the province.

Only 7% of respondents who have returned to in-person instruction said the measures were “completely adequate.”

A total of 60% of teachers said the health and safety conditions in their school setting was either “completely inadequate” or “somewhat inadequate.”

BCTF President Teri Mooring said the survey outlines how the Ministry of Education’s restart plan has fallen short in making sure teachers have the necessary health and safety measures in place during this pandemic.

“A significant majority of teachers are working in schools without the necessary safety measures in place to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19,” said Mooring.

“These are not surprising results. Teachers have been raising concerns since July 29 that the Ministry of Education’s restart plan wasn’t good enough. Many teachers are working in classrooms that have no space for physical distancing or access to fresh air. In many cases there has been no reduction in class sizes or school density. Coupled with a weak mask mandate and it’s clear why so many teachers are reporting unsafe conditions.”

While the poll was taken at the end of the second week of school, Mooring explained that things have not improved as BC enters the second month of schools.

“The COVID-19 exposures started almost as soon as schools opened, and now we know there has likely been in-school transmission at multiple sites. The first month has been filled with confusing and inconsistent public reporting, online speculation, and serious lags between an exposure and effective contact tracing. We need the health authorities and school districts to be doing a better job at informing teachers and parents about possible exposures.”

The BCTF continues to call for a stronger mask mandate as well as smaller class sizes and equitable hybrid education options to reduce density in schools and allow people to maintain safe distances.

Meanwhile, two BC schools have closed this week due to staff shortages connected to coronavirus infections, the first time any schools in the province have shut since the pandemic began.

“Schools are working with the families to ensure that educational opportunities continue,” Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said.