Province is preparing for long school closures

Education Minister Stephen Lecce released a statement Sunday reassuring parents officials are working on a plan to keep kids learning if schools are shuttered past April 6.

March 23, 2020
Niagarafallreview.com
Rob Ferguson

As the coronavirus crisis deepens, Education Minister Stephen Lecce is reassuring parents more measures are in the works to keep kids learning if the two-week suspension of school is extended past April 6.

Efforts are also underway with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to make sure graduating students can apply for post-secondary spots "regardless of the situation this semester," he said in an open letter released Sunday night.

"No graduating student will have their ability to graduate impacted by the two-week closure and COVID-19 developments," he added.

"We are preparing in the event the closure period is extended."

Lecce pledged teachers will be involved as his ministry works with school boards to create online options.

"We'll be providing guidelines and guidance to them," he told a news conference earlier in the day that was attended by a lone television camera operator and broadcast live to journalists watching safely at home.

"We know they want to be part of the solution," he added in a reference to teachers, giving a shout-out to many who have been working remotely with their students during March break following a series of rotating strikes by teacher unions.

Unions representing public school elementary teachers and Catholic teachers have reached tentative contracts with the government, leaving the unions representing public high school teachers and teachers with French-language boards yet to settle.

A key concern of teacher unions was the government's push for more online courses -- which will now be part of the measures to help students continue their course work and accumulation of credits.

Lecce said the government has to find a solution for children who are not online at home "to ensure students that currently do not have access to a computer gain the technology needed to participate."

Last week he announced measures for the coming two weeks as children are out of school following the March break on the recommendation of Ontario's chief medical officer, Dr. David Williams.

The government will rely on his advice on the merits of a longer closure. Some other jurisdictions have suspended school indefinitely given the trajectory of the new coronavirus is unknown.

In any event, school boards will be given extra funding for "deep cleaning" of schools, daycare centres located in schools and school buses, Lecce said.

He recommended parents who need help explaining the dramatic and frightening circumstances around COVID-19 get in touch with Kids Help Phone at kidshelpphone.ca or 1-800-668-6868.