Ontario's education minister to make announcement on public schools today

Ontario’s Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, is expected to make an announcement on the fate of public schools and child care centres, which have been shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last week, Premier Doug Ford confirmed that the Minister of Education will have news on the current situation for children in Ontario public schools and child care on Tuesday.

Ontario schools have been suspended since mid-March, with children learning online with the Learn at Home program, which offers curriculums for Grade K to 12 and lessons for basics like reading, writing, math, and science skills.

Originally, schools were cancelled for two weeks following the March Break. But as the pandemic continued and coronavirus cases increased, Lecce extended the deadline, with schools being closed until June at the earliest.

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  • Canada watches as thousands of Quebec elementary students return to school
  • Ontario to make announcement on childcare and public schools next week

But it’s a different situation in Quebec, where some elementary schools in the province reopened on May 11 to strict guidelines.

Class sizes are restricted to 15 students each, constant physical distancing and frequent hand washing will be enforced, and days will be in large part, spent by children at their desks.

Libraries, gymnasiums, and cafeterias will be closed and attendance remains optional.

The move has received backlash as Quebec continues to lead the country with most coronavirus cases in total at 43,627 with Ontario following at 22,957.

Whether a June reopening date is still possible for Ontario schools will likely be addressed during the province’s daily press conference at Queen’s Park at 1 pm on Tuesday, May 19.