Today the province is providing details about the funding available to Manitoba school divisions to help ensure a safe learning environment during the COVID pandemic.

Provincial funding is offering $52 million to school divisions, plus $48 million in savings from the shortened term last school year.

Manitoba’s Education Minister says of the $52 million, $12 million is estimated for masks and PPE, $32 million for school divisions and independent schools to access up to a per-pupil maximum, and $8 million to address urgent health and serious safety measures over and above the school division allocation.

The funding will also be used to support enhanced cleaning and sanitization, including more custodial staffing, increased bus transportation capacity, and ensuring substitute teachers and educational staff are available.

There is also $85.4 million in federal funds to help support learning in Manitoba.