Lecce committed to full return to in-person learning for 2021-22

It is the last day of school in a school year that many parents, students, and teachers hope will never be repeated.

There are still no official plans for September but Ontario’s education minister says he is committed to a full return to in-person learning.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce tells CityNews he anticipates the next school years will be “more normal” experience for students that will include sports and extra-curricular activities.

“I feel very confident that kids will return full-time in class,” says Lecce. “That can allow for the socialization of kids, maybe relaxing cohorting, and allowing students to see their peers.”

Students haven’t been in a classroom since April due to the pandemic and as they await the back to school plan, teachers unions are standing firm saying they want to see kids back in class full-time.

“The hybrid model is not about delivering quality education to our students,” says Julie Altomare-Di Nunzio, President of the Toronto Elementary Catholic Teachers’ union. “It’s just about saving money and short-changing our children.”

The Ford government released details to its 2021-2022 education funding plan in May. The province said school boards will be asked to offer virtual learning as a mandatory option for students and staff for the full 2021-22 school year.

“The Ford government is offering the hybrid model to parents and children as a choice, but it’s a bad choice,” says Laura Walton, Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU) President.

Jennifer Brown, President of Elementary Teachers of Toronto calls it “a fractured learning model” that “sets up a two-tier public education system.”

Lecce says he’s been working with the former chief medical officer of health for months – and now with province’s new top doctor on the 2021-22 school year plan.

“He and I both reaffirmed to create a more normal experience, stable for the kids, staying in class,” says Lecce.

He says in addition to improved ventilation in buildings, and increased testing, a big focus will be on getting shots into students arms.

The return to school plan is expected to be released sometime in July.