Coquitlam district students will be able to fly to international destinations starting the next school year.
A moratorium on travel has already been lifted for out-of-province trips, but travel out of the country has remained on hold while officials monitored the COVID-19 pandemic and other concerns related to travel.
Now the district's leadership team is ready to lift the ban on foreign travel, starting in the 2023/'24 school year.
"At this time, we feel it is appropriate to allow applications for potential international travel opportunities to come forward now," states a report to the School District 43 (SD43) board of education.
According to the district, travel enhances students' education and is worth pursuing.
"The opportunity for student travel related to language, culture and history is something SD43 holds in high regard, and re-instating the potential to travel abroad will provide students with valuable life experiences."
Cancellation insurance
However, each trip will require detailed preparations in advance, particularly the arrangement of cancellation insurance.
In March 2020, the district had to cancel several trips due to COVID-19; fortunately, all students and their families were reimbursed for the total amount of insurance covered by the contract.
Among the trips cancelled just before spring break that year were excursions to Europe, Asia and Africa.
At the time, the district was worried about the safety of students and took the step of cancelling all trips.
"As in previous years, there are a number of school trips planned over spring break. In light of the COVID-19 outbreak and corresponding travel advisories issued by many countries, including Canada, the district has had to take the necessary precaution of cancelling some of these trips.," said superintendent Patricia Gartland at the time.
Two stage approval process
Still, while field trips are supported, the school district notes it will not fund any portion and international education trips are "not a right of any student, class or group."
Tonight (March 7) at a board of education meeting, officials will lay out their plans for how applications for international field trips will be handled.
According to the district, the process for approval will include the following steps:
- Application for Approval (2 stages)
- Conditions of Participation
- Volunteers and Supervision
- Financial Arrangements
- Pre-Trip Review
- Documentation
- Health and Safety
