Mandatory eLearning in Schools
Whereas, the Minister of Education announced on March 15, 2019 the policy of at least four mandatory eLearning courses of the thirty credits needed to graduate to be implemented in the 2020-21 school year; and
Whereas, the Board’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan seeks to create opportunities for equitable access to programs and services for students; and
Whereas, the Board’s most recent school climate survey resulted in some students expressing challenges with issues of mental health, belonging, and access to caring adults in schools, and the role of technology in relation to their overall well-being; and
Whereas, this policy raises as yet unanswered questions regarding equitable access to technology, and students, parents and teachers have already identified access issues; and
Whereas, the Halton District School Board and the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association have surveyed their communities about the issue of mandatory eLearning; and
Whereas, the Board honours and values student voice as well as parent and staff feedback; and Whereas, it is our obligation to provide the Ministry of Education with input about the repercussions of this policy on the Board’s elementary and secondary schools, and on student success overall; and
Whereas, the Ministry has indicated that implementation is next school year and yet no framework or implementation details have been provided from the Ministry of Education, nor have the results of the government’s own consultation on the matter;
Therefore, be it resolved:
(a) That the Director conduct a random sample survey of the Board’s secondary school students, parents and staff to determine their thoughts about the implementation of mandatory eLearning;
(b) That the Chair write to the Minister of Education and the presidents of both the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association and the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association:
- to express the Board’s concerns about the implementation of the Ministry’s mandatory eLearning;
- to advise that the TVDSB is surveying its community and will then report back to the province when the results become available.