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Aug 19, 2020 11:27 PM -

B.C. teachers' union calls for smaller classes, masks in back-to-school plan

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President of the BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF) Teri Mooring is interviewed during a protest at the Victoria Convention Centre in Victoria, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019. The B.C. Teachers' Federation wants the province to reduce class sizes and make the use of masks mandatory wherever physical distancing isn't possible as part of its back-to-school plan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

The BC Teachers' Federation says it wants smaller classes and mandatory masks whereever possible as part of the provincial back-to-school plan amid the pandemic.

A statement from president Teri Mooring says the restart plan for Kindergarten to Grade 12 has made no change to classroom density and it's impossible to physical distance with 30 people in a classroom.

The union also wants dedicated funding for heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment and expanding mandatory mask use for children aged 10 and older.

The provincial government has said masks will be required whenever students and teachers are outside their learning group when school resumes September 10th.

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