The Canadian Press
TORONTO–Some Ontario school boards have written to the education minister with concerns that planned increases to class sizes will mean they can offer fewer elective courses, such as in the arts and skilled trades.
Boards in Peel region, Toronto and eastern Ontario told Lisa Thompson that her move to increase average high school class sizes from 22 to 28 will affect student learning.
Thousands of teaching positions are expected to be lost over the four years the change is phased in, though the minister has said there will be no “involuntary job losses.”
“The reduction of staff, even through attrition, will result in fewer options for students, as well as increased concern about student safety,” wrote Shannon Binder, the chair of the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board.
“There will be negative impact on student achievement and well-being.”
The Toronto District School Board told the minister that increased class sizes will mean fewer teachers will be needed in schools and that will put some programs that schools currently offer in jeopardy.
“Students should have diverse learning experiences beyond the compulsory subjects,” chair Robin Pilkey wrote.
“Such experiences are typically found in course electives, yet these are the subject areas most affected by a teacher reduction of this extent and a class size increase by this magnitude.”
