TORONTO Ontario teachers’ unions are sounding the alarm after the provincial government announced its holding consultations on whether or not to make online learning options a permanent choice for families once the pandemic ends. Union leaders and parents voiced their concerns during a news conference on Wednesday, saying the plans will undermine Ontario s publically funded education system and will harm students. “Their plan to make online classes permanent means a student could go from Kindergarten to Grade 12 without ever setting foot inside a school,” Sam Hammond, president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), told reporters. “They re planning to make virtual learning permanent while undermining Ontario’s publicly funded education system. It s a plan that they’re busy working on behind closed doors during a global pandemic.”
Ontario education unions, advocacy groups and parents are raising concerns about a government plan to offer an online learning option for the next school year, saying it could be the start of a permanent change with serious implications for students and workers.
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He argued that change would divert funds from in-class learning and weaken the public education system.
“It’s a plan they have been working on behind closed doors while families and education workers have poured their hearts into keeping students safe while learning,” Hammond said at a media briefing Wednesday. ”Their plan to make online learning permanent would mean a student could go from kindergarten to Grade 12 without ever setting a foot inside a school.”
He and other officials who spoke at the briefing said in-person learning is crucial to student development, and raised concerns about pressures placed on educators balancing in-class and online teaching demands during the pandemic.
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School boards across the province which includes the ones right here in Cornwall and SDG will be receiving a total of $972.6 million for the 2021-22 school year, an overall increase of $18.1 million from the year prior, through the Grants for Student Needs (GSN) Program.
“Our government is committed to advancing student success, and we are delivering significant resources here in Stormont Dundas South Glengarry, and across the province to help young people reach their full potential,” said Stormont Dundas South Glengarry MPP Jim McDonell.
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He argued that change would divert funds from in-class learning and weaken the public education system.
“It’s a plan they have been working on behind closed doors while families and education workers have poured their hearts into keeping students safe while learning,” Hammond said at a media briefing Wednesday. ”Their plan to make online learning permanent would mean a student could go from kindergarten to Grade 12 without ever setting a foot inside a school.”
He and other officials who spoke at the briefing said in-person learning is crucial to student development, and raised concerns about pressures placed on educators balancing in-class and online teaching demands during the pandemic.