Proof of vaccination or a negative test is not required for students to attend curricular and extra-curricular activities within Saskatchewan schools and school operations under the current provincial public health order.

So says Minister of Education, Dustin Duncan (pictured), in a letter to all Saskatchewan School Division Board Chairs, dated November 17th.

Duncan writes that he has been informed that in some cases, students who are age-eligible for vaccination against COVID-19, but are not yet immunized, have been denied access to school sanctioned events such as sports and art activities.

Duncan says the Education Act of 1995 states that all students are to be afforded the opportunity to fully participate in school instruction, as well as athletic and arts programming as long as the student is asymptomatic and not under a self-isolation order as a result of being a COVID positive case or a close contact of a COVID positive case.

Duncan adds that the public health orders, due to COVID-19, are primarily intended to apply to non-essential services and operations while education is considered an essential service.