It looks like Ontario students will be returning to full-time, in-person school in the fall

BY PAUL JUNOR

On Monday, July 25^th, 2022, in a news release titled, “Ontario Launches Its Plan to Catch Up,” subtitled, “Plan Starts with Students Back in Classrooms, On time.” Details can be seen on the Ontario government website: news.ontario.ca.

Ontario Minister of Education states, “Our government is looking ahead as we remain squarely focused on ensuring students receive the best stable learning experience possible, and that starts with them being in class, on time, with all of the experiences students deserve. We have a plan for students to catch up, including the largest tutoring program in Ontario’s history, a modernized skills-focused curriculum to prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow, and enhanced mental health support.”

The five key components of the plan are:

• Getting kids back in classrooms in September, on time, with a full school experience that includes extra-curricular like clubs, band, and field trips
• New tutoring supports to fill gaps in learning
• Preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow
• Providing more money to build schools and improve education
• Helping students with historic funding for mental health supports

Further information on the full Plan to Catch Up can be seen on ontario.ca/CatchUp. In preparing for the 2022-2023 school year, it states, “Our plan starts with a return to in-person learning, on time, and with all the experiences students need and deserve like: sports, clubs and field-trips. Nothing is more important. Our plan also provides historic support to help keep students engaged and on track so they can reach their goals, including a new province-wide tutoring program – the largest of its kind in the country-and expanded summer learning.”

In the plan, the Ontario government touts the fact that it has invested $26.6 billion in funding for the 2022-23 school year with about $175 million going towards enhanced tutoring programs, and $304 million in time-limited funding to hire 3,000 front line staff.

Minister Leece, in a press conference in Ajax reiterated the importance of ensuring that two million Ontario students are exposed to in-person learning. He states, “It is so consequential to children’s mental and physical health.”

Karen Littlewood, President of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation is supportive of the resumption of extracurricular activities but expressed reservations about COVID-19 risks in schools, given that mask mandates have been eliminated from schools. The opposition NDP released a statement that notes, “The Conservative government will not invest even one more dollar in Ontario’s kids.”

Marit Stiles, NDP education critic states, “Teachers and education workers are being laid off. Our kids’ class sizes are far too big and growing. Children still aren’t getting anywhere near enough support for their mental health, and teachers and education workers are leaving. What we needed to hear from Stephen Leece today is that the government is increasing the education budget- not that they’re holding the line.”