Back to school was once a time of excitement, but as parents prepare for a third school year impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become a season of apprehension.
As COVID-19 cases rise during Canada's fourth wave, students across the country return to unvaccinated classrooms as younger children are still ineligible for the vaccine. But new data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds most parents of school-aged children - regardless of their kids' ages - are comfortable returning their kids to in-person learning. Three-quarters of parents with a child aged 12 to 17, and two-thirds of parents with a child aged five to 11, say they are comfortable putting their kids back in classrooms.
Still, parents want additional safeguards. Three-quarters (74%) of parents with older kids, and four-in-five (81%) parents with kids aged five to 11 (who are still ineligible for the vaccine), believe vaccines should be mandatory for school staff including teachers.
A majority of both groups of parents are worried about their children getting sick from COVID-19. Those with children ineligible for the vaccine are the most worried with one-third (34%) of parents with a child aged five to 11 saying they are "very concerned" their children might get sick from the virus.
Even parents whose child is vaccinated fret about the virus. Three-in-five with a vaccinated child aged 12 to 17 say they are still worried about their children getting sick from COVID-19.
Despite all the concern, in-school learning is vastly preferred to online. Nine-in-ten (88%) of both groups of parents prefer their children learn in-person rather than online.
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