The provincial government is getting more help for students who continue to learn from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Premier Doug Ford said the deal with Rogers and Apple will provide iPads to students.
Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce made the announcement on Friday.
Ford called the pandemic the “fight of a generation.”
Lecce said they made a commitment to parents that they would keep their children safe.
Earlier this week, Ford said online learning would continue beyond May 4th. The provincial officials stressed they are doing everything they can to ensure students graduate in June.
There’s been no word on if the provincial government will cancel the 2020 school year, but both the education minister and the premier have repeatedly said everything is on the table during these unprecedented times.
Today’s announcement includes:
- Ontario’s Ministry of Education has collaborated with educators, school boards, Apple and Rogers to support the Learn at Home program with an iPad and integrated wireless remote learning solution to help meet the educational needs of our province’s families.
- Working with Apple and Rogers, Ontario school boards now have access to affordable solutions with iPad, which is the most secure device for education that’s also easy to use, and to manage and deploy — so that no student is left behind while schools are closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation.
- iPad will be purchased and distributed by Ontario school boards, pre-equipped with Rogers LTE wireless data. Rogers is providing this plan at no cost for the balance of the school year (until June 30, 2020). Students and families do not need to contact Rogers to set the devices up.
- School boards will determine requirements for student eligibility to receive an iPad.
- In addition, Rogers is allowing eligible households to sign up for high-speed Internet with no overage fees for $9.99 monthly.
