The Ontario government launched an action plan to assist students who are struggling academically for the 2022-2023 school year after two years of pandemic disruptions. .“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,” said Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce in a Monday press release. .“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 supports.”.The release said this plan is focused on parental concerns and covers five areas. .The first measure is requiring students to be in classrooms in September, with a full school experience including extracurriculars such as clubs, bands, and field trips. Ontario will create new tutoring supports to fill gaps in learning. .The release went on to say Ontario will prepare students for tomorrow’s jobs. It added more money will be spent on building schools and enhancing education. .This plan includes putting more money towards mental health supports. .This announcement follows Ontario providing more than $26.6 billion in funding to schools for the upcoming academic year, the largest amount in the province’s history. Ontario has spent more than $175 million on tutoring programs to assist students who have fallen behind because of school closures. .“With almost 50,000 children benefiting from Ontario’s tutoring investments every week, and summer learning programs underway province-wide, Ontario’s plan is getting students back on track,” said Lecce. .Ontario Premier Doug Ford enacted a fourth lockdown in January that saw schools closed for in-person learning. .These measures included a ban on indoor dining in restaurants, closed gyms, and capacity limits in retail stores. ."The immediate goal of these measures will be to blunt the latest wave so we can ease the pressure on our hospitals," said Ford. .The Public Agency of Canada (PHAC) announced in June it would fund research into the effects of COVID-19 on children. .READ MORE: Public Health Agency plans research into COVID-19 impact on children.This funding comes after a report determined school closures and lockdowns were more disruptive than COVID-19. .“This is something the Public Health Agency is taking seriously,” said PHAC vice president Candice St-Aubin.
