Manitoba is spending an additional $6.5 million to support post-pandemic academic needs and well-being.

$2 million will be spent on strengthening student learning through:

• approximately $1 million for the Manitoba Remote Learning Support Centre (MRLSC) to provide after-school learning supports for students in grades 1 to 8;
• $250,000 for the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children Survey, which will collect data on the health and well-being, social environments and health behaviours of children and youth for students in grades 6 to 10;
• $150,000 to Kids Help Phone, 24/7 counselling and crisis supports;
• $390,000 for online resources and video-streaming services, including enhancements to support French, French immersion, and French/English program educators through Direction des ressources éducatives françaises (DREF); and
• $250,000 for research to assess and understand the effects of the pandemic on learning outcomes through a partnership with the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy at the University of Manitoba.

“As Manitoba students and their teachers head back to school, our government is continuing to make significant investments to support their mental health and academic needs,” said Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Wayne Ewasko. “This year, schools will offer the full kindergarten to Grade 12 curriculum and all the extracurricular activities that bring the school experience to life. Sports, recreation, tournaments, band and choir are just a few examples of what can be expected for the coming year.”

In June the province announce $20 million in funding to strengthen student learning and supports.