The Premier is defending the back to school plan after criticism from the Nova Scotia Teachers’ Union.
NSTU President Paul Wozney has publicly said schools are in a state of chaos, and said he wants the start of the school year delayed by two days.
After Thursday’s cabinet meeting, Premier Stephen McNeil said Wozney is just making noise.
“Schools are not in chaos, that’s just simply not factual. Find me a school that’s in chaos in the province. They haven’t even opened yet,” he said. “We’re going to welcome 130,000 young people back into our schools, who’ve been out since March, and he’s asking for two more days? Think about that for a second, just think about that, that’s his priority.”
McNeil says teachers are already in schools, getting ready for students to return.
He says he hasn’t heard any of what Wozney is saying from most teachers in the province.
“They’re ready to welcome kids, but obviously there’s some anxiety associated with that, no question,” he said. “But the rhetoric around schools being in chaos is just not helpful and not accurate.”
McNeil says there won’t be a delay to the school year.
Students return to classes Tuesday.
