Premier Doug Ford hasn’t done enough for the safety of schools in the last two years.
That’s the opinion of Carlo Cappello, the local President of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, as everyone gets set for the return of in-person learning on Monday.
“He’s failed to maintain the existing safety structures that were in place with respect to testing, co-horting and smaller class sizes… those are real concerns for us,” Cappello told Acadia News. “Our members have done the best they can, given the circumstances and especially the short notice. They’ve had to make all kinds of changes when it comes to delivering their lessons, exam plans, collecting assignments and marking. The students have had to make those stressful changes as well. The uncertainty of where we are going from here only adds to the frustration and stress.”
The return to the building was first revealed Monday night by the Premier’s office with the province further unveiling Tuesday that school cases will not be reported anymore and that polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 tests will only be provided to elementary and secondary students and staff who become symptomatic at school.
Additionally class or school closures will be based on operational needs.
Cappello is also critical of the notice that the province gives, adding “advanced notice would definitely help for use but that’s not what this government’s game plan is. This government thinks that 48 hours notice to put an entire province’s education system in pivot mode, whether it be back to in-class or online learning, is enough time and clearly it’s not!”
Cappello mentioned that teachers want to go back to the classroom but school closures will become a reality if appropriate existing safety measures aren’t maintained.
