WINNIPEG – Manitoba’s Auditor General says the Department of Education was unprepared for the pandemic, but responded effectively to COVID-19.
A report from the auditor’s office says the ministry failed to consider the risks to schools in advance and did not have a co-ordinated emergency plan.
The report also says the department was unprepared for a transition to remote learning.
Despite this, the report says, the department was able to provide support to schools and implement incident management.
The Auditor General makes eight recommendations, including improving internet connectivity so that e-learning is available across the province.
The government says it is working on improvements and cites a recent agreement with Xplornet Communications to extend broadband services to 350 rural and northern communities.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on April 7, 2022.
