The province is getting a handle on how COVID affected, and may be affecting, academic outcomes.

While former Premier Dwight Ball formed a task force to address academic outcomes amid concerns that NL students were falling behind the rest of the country. Once the pandemic struck nearly four years ago, the focus immediately shifted to health and wellness.

Education Minister Krista-Lynn Howell says her predecessor, John Haggie, arranged a forum bringing together those in the K-12 and post-secondary systems and they were able to identify some of the challenges being faced coming out of COVID. “We’re certainly interested in continuing that conversation as we move forward to make sure we’re getting the best outcome for our students.”