It was a fairly smooth return to classes for students and school staff across the province yesterday.

Despite fears about sending children to school during the current Omicron outbreak, attendance was higher than anticipated according to Education Minister Tom Osborne.

He says the attendance of teachers was “normal” while among students, the attendance rates was just over 80 per cent, which was more than Osborne anticipated.

Students and staff had to conduct two rapid tests, both of which had to be negative in order to attend school. Each student and staff member has been assigned five rapid tests each. The remainder of tests are for use if a child or teacher starts to experience cold-like symptoms.