​Ontario promotes quality and delivery of Rural Education

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​Mitzie Hunter. Image credit: Facebook Page

#MitzieHunter, #GrantCrack, #GranvilleAnderson, #Lou Rinaldi

Toronto, Jul 05 (Canadian-Media) Mitzie Hunter, Ontario Minister of Education -- joined by parliamentary assistants Grant Crack, Granville Anderson and Lou Rinaldi -- made an announcement June 28 at Chemong Public School in Bridgenorth that Ontario would be investing additional $20 million to support school boards in addressing local needs in rural and Northern communities, starting in September 2017, media reports said.

These steps had been taken by Ontario to promote both the quality and delivery of education in rural and Northern communities and to provide students with the best possible start in life and build a foundation for their future success, a news release reported.

“Our government is committed to strengthening rural and Northern education. We are increasing our investment in rural and Northern students to help ensure that they have high-quality education services and programs that meet their needs,” said Hunter.

Ontario's new plan -- based on feedback heard during in-person rural education engagements in 10 rural and Northern communities across the province and from more than 1100 participants of on-line survey this spring -- will support rural and Northern students and communities through a series of steps.

“The feedback provided through rural education engagements and online survey respondents gave us valuable insight on how to improve the pupil accommodation review process and better support Ontario students living in rural and Northern communities,” said Anderson, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education and MPP for Durham.

The decisions of the school boards to review schools for potential closure will be subjected to further community consultation.

Under the new rules, Ontario Ministry of Education would provide increased funding for co-operation between school boards including planning and building ‎joint-use schools, a new Rural and Northern Education Fund for this September to further enhance students' learning experience with better programming such as French immersion, arts education and guidance counselling, broadband speed, special education supports and experiential learning opportunities.

Ontario Ministry of Education is also considering to seek input from parents, students, communities, municipalities and school boards on how to strengthen education in rural and Northern Ontario.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)

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