Sam Odrowski
The Ministry of Education currently is seeking input from parents, students, educators, and interested individuals or organizations to help improve Ontario’s school curriculum.
The consultations are starting here in Northwestern Ontario and will be focused on building a new Health and Physical Education (sex-ed) curriculum, improving student performance in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, preparing students for the skills and trades, and improving standardized testing.
Other areas of focus include ensuring students graduate with valuable life skills that includes financial literacy, managing the use of cellphones and other technology in the classroom, and developing the first-ever Parents’ Bill of Rights.
But individuals who would like to have their say via the “Telephone Town Hall” need to act fast as registration closes today at 4 p.m.
The sessions are 90 minutes and people can register by providing their phone number and e-mail address to https://www.ontario.ca/form/register-telephone-town-halls-about-education-ontario
Space is limited and is on a first-come, first-served basis. The province will contact those who registered via telephone prior to the town hall consultation that will take place tomorrow (Oct. 19) from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (CST).
Those who miss today’s deadline, but provide their information, could be included in the session slated for Wednesday, Nov. 14 from 6:30-8 p.m.
Registration for each session closes at 4 p.m. the day before, and all comments provided through the telephone town hall are anonymous.
Another way for people to have their say is by visiting www.ontario.ca/page/for-the-parents and filling out an online submission form.
Those who submit a form have until Dec. 15 to do so.
“If people want to have their say, this is a good way to do it,” said Heather Latter, communications officer for the Rainy River District School Board.
An online survey also will be launched soon to get further feedback from Ontarians.
The province encourages everyone to participate and provide feedback on the education system in Ontario.
