Trustee shares how public board feels about province’s plan for mandatory online learning post-pandemic

Trustees within the Waterloo Region District School Board discussed how they feel about the minister of education's plans for mandatory online learning post-pandemic. 

Trustee Laurie Tremble says the school board has data on student achievement and well-being during the pandemic, which indicates an increase in mental health concerns and feelings of isolation among students learning remotely. 

She says the proposal by the ministry of education does not support this data.

“Where as the WRDSB already had pre-pandemic and continues to have a functioning online learning program which was utilized by secondary students and supported by the Ontario e-learning consortia.”

The Ontario Students Trustees' Association shared the concerns of the proposed plan including significant negative impacts on school boards reduced funding levels. 

Tremble says there is no evidence to support that the policy changes will improve students achievement or well-being.  

“The diminishment of local influence on education, a lack of accountability for online learning delivered through TFO and TBO. The effects on students ability to attend small, rural and remote schools and serious concerns about the implementation of the plan

The OSTA also expressed concerns that the proposed plan would have many negative impacts for students and it does not prioritize the success and well being of the students. 

“WRDSB registrations showed us that students and families prefer in-person learning which is the opposite of this proposal. Rushing through these radical changes to remote learning after a year of isolation and instability created by the COVID-19 pandemic risks causing real harm to our students.”

OSTA is calling on the ministry to immediately stop its consideration of the proposal until the full impacts of remote learning on students during the pandemic is known and until a consultation is done with all education stake holders.