Remote learning may become a permanent option this fall for Ontario elementary students

Remote learning in Ontario schools may become a permanent option this fall.

The Globe and Mail has obtained a confidential document, shared this week with education groups, that suggests parents would have the choice this fall of enrolling their kids in remote learning or in a classroom setting. Both options have been offered to students during the pandemic.

Schools would also have to provide remote learning for all students on snow days.

As many as 300,000 elementary students and 100,000 secondary students – 20 per cent of the school population – have enrolled in remote learning this academic year.

School boards could choose to operate separate virtual schools but there would be no additional funding for such.

Harvey Bischof, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, told the Globe and Mail he was concerned the government was rushing into this without any evidence on how it has worked for families during the pandemic. He said he also worries it could lead to the privatization of the education system.