The English school district has asked five junior high schools to condense their school day to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus.

The five schools are all in the St. John’s Metro area.

The NDP’s Jim Dinn raised the issue yesterday in the House of Assembly, noting it’s an effort to solve issues with lack of cohorting during lunch.

But he says for many students, it would mean five straight hours in one classroom, suggesting it could affect their learning, mental and physical health.

Education Minister Tom Osborne explained the strategy, adding teachers in four of the five schools are on board.

He says one of the ways to reduce crowding at lunchtime is to shorten it and dismiss students earlier in the day and says most teachers agreed it was a good way to protect students when they’re not within the school’s jurisdiction.

Dinn, however, expects problems to arise around bus schedules as well as those of parents and caregivers.