2022 has not got off on a good start with education. Students have been remote-learning since the provincial government implemented new restrictions closing down schools amongst other things. Since then, the decision has been made for students to return to in-class learning as of January 17th. Some parents think that is amazing news, but some also don’t like the idea of immediately sending kids back into schools.
Corrine Rahman is a working mother and Elementary Teachers of Ontario Federation trustee, and she gives her thoughts on kids being sent back to school. “And so as a working parent, and you know, I’m struggling to manage online learning at home and have been weighing the risks associated with my kids going back. I do feel comfortable with that status and then returning to the classroom.” Rahman has three children who have been learning from home since the restrictions were implemented.
With schools set to reopen, safety measures have been the topic of conversation. According to Education Minister Stephen Lecce, approximately 70,000 HEPA air filtration systems have been distributed to school boards and 3,000 more are set to be. The province is also said to have distributed over 9.1 million non-fitted N95 masks to educators, school boards and 4 million 3-ply masks for students.
Those extra measures and resources that the province is distributing is a great step in the right direction, but Rahman thinks that it’s not enough. “When the Premier of Ontario comes to the Ontario citizens and says this is the strategy that we have, and we will spare no penny. I expect as a government, that there will be mitigation strategies taken that will spare no penny. And what I’ve seen, in my opinion, is that there isn’t a firm commitment of dollars to back up that claim.” Rahman hopes to see better options taken in making sure that students, teachers, educators and the public can stay safe.
For the full interview, listen here.
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