Toronto, May 27: As the Toronto District Education Board (TDSB) under the guidance from the Ontario Provincial Education Ministry to resume physical classes from September this year, today the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) has released a new Discussion Paper, Transitioning from the COVID-19 School Experience, which reveals two compelling realities that must be addressed following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The OPSBA President Cathy Abraham said, “We know many students haven’t found success in remote forms of learning. On the flip side, several innovative practices in teaching and leadership have emerged that should be preserved and implemented on a broader scale post-pandemic.”

Since first declared COVID-19 as a global in March in 2020 by the World Health Organization, it has been and continues to be, one of the great social and economic disruptors of our time, with widespread impact on one of society’s most traditional institutions, such as school. It cannot be pretend or express that, this educational roller-coaster has not left many students isolated, their parents stressed and some teachers on the brink of burnout. Similarly, no one can ignore the fact low-income and racialized families were hit hardest by both the virus and the switch to online learning. The truth is that, the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced inequities many students face. These inequities are inevitably linked to students’ overall achievement, well-being, and future prospects.

The OPSBA President Cathy Abraham with questioning further said that, “Ontario children are preparing to return to their public schools after the biggest disruption in a lifetime. What have we observed about student engagement, and how equitably are we connecting with the province’s young learners? This is what we want to explore through conversations with our education partners in the coming months. What can we change, what practices can we deepen?”

This is a rare once-in-a-lifetime chance to reset how Ontario provides education, a critical moment that needs everyone’s voice – students, educators, parents, trustees, everyone in our school communities. Now, the OPSBA is engaged in providing the launchpad for this conversation with the research and observations in this initial Discussion Paper and urges others to join with them.