Ontario education minister reveals new details about what might be allowed for students in September
Extracurricular activities, sports teams and clubs could once again be offered in Ontario schools this September, as the government moves towards a normalized education experience for students across the province.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce revealed that, in addition to full-time, in-class learning in September, students should be able to participate in modified activities as long as the pandemic continues to be under control in the community.
"Our intention is to restore extracurricular and sport and clubs," Lecce told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday. "There will be adaptations required by public health just to make them safe."
Extracurricular activities were largely sidelined or severely limited last September when students returned to the classroom after the first wave of COVID-19. As Ontario battled the second and third waves of the pandemic, however, in-class learning was disrupted, before being cancelled altogether along with any in-school activities.
Now, as the province and public health officials prepare to re-open schools to students in the fall, Lecce says the province wants to create a safe, yet positive learning experience.
"It's those extracurricular, volunteering and leadership development experiences, it's the sports that provide physical activity that's helpful for children," Lecce said, noting that the mental health of students is a key part of the back-to-school plan.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, right, and Education Minister Stephen Lecce get ready to make an announcement regarding the governments plan for a safe reopening of schools in the fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic at Father Leo J Austin Catholic Secondary School in Whitby, Ont., on Thursday, July 30, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
What normal looks like, the minister said, depends on the vaccine uptake among eligible children and teens before September -- currently, nearly 60 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 have been partially immunized while roughly 11 per cent have been double vaccinated.
That led to a "call for arms" from the province's Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore who warned that students have just nine weeks remaining before schools resume, and require two weeks for their immunity to kick in once they receive a shot.
"We want them to enjoy their sports, music, theatre and social events, and for that to occur safely we need a very high level of immunization," Moore said.
While Moore didn't reveal whether the province has set a vaccination threshold for school activities to resume, other public health officials say the government would need to dramatically boost its numbers among children.
"The province would, ideally, want at least 80 per cent of youth vaccinated," said Dr. Charles Gardner, the Chair of the Council of Medical Officers of Health.
Dr. Gardner cautioned, however, that the province still needs to examine the state of the situation in the fall before a full resumption of school activities
"The question about cohorts, masking and physical distancing ... will remain relevant at least at the very beginning to see how things go before you can look at to what degree you have been successful and we can back away from some of those measures," Dr. Gardner said.
The Ontario NDP claimed the government isn't taking action to ensure the safety of schools and argues there should be a "massive effort" during the summer months to hire additional educators to ensure smaller class sizes, and to install improved ventilation in classrooms.
The party also called for an end to the hybrid learning model which saw students switch between in-class and online learning during the last school year.
Lecce said parents have "overwhelmingly" told school boards they want students to return to the in-class setting which is, in part, driving the province's push to reopen schools in September.
Lecce said the plan for schools will be made public "in a few weeks."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.