#InvestmentInEducation; #AdditionalFundingAnnouncedForEducation

​Toronto, Aug 22 (Canadian-Media): ​A press conference was held today in the office of Vijay Thanigasalam, Member of Parliament (MPP), Scarborough, Rouge Park in which Stephen Lecce, Ontario Minister of Education was joined by Sam Oosterhoff, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education, Thanigasalam, and Christina Mitas, MPP for Scarborough Centre.

Lecee announced to the media present there that starting from September, the new academic year the class sizes in Ontario high schools would be 22.5 . We were told, added Lecee that the class size would increase to between 40-50. This was misinformation. We were also led to believe that there are not sufficient resources for the education sector this year. But that information was also wrong.

Lecee then announced additional funding of $700 million for education and also said the investment in funding would  doubled in mental health education, autism, mentally challenged students, school transportation and in child care. Our services have also increased in the French language studies and for the First Nations students. The variety of courses being offered would also enhance.

Lecee said that investment in education is investment in the prosperity of nation and we strive for a new world class education in Ontario.
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Lecee said they are still in the midst of bargaining with teachers and education workers and suggestions from them for betterment of education are welcome.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)

UnitedNationsInternationalYouthDay; #TransformingEducation; #learningCrisis

United Nations, Aug 12 (Canadian-Media) Schools are “not equipping young people with the skills they need to navigate the technological revolution”, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres warned, in a message released to mark the UN’s International Youth Day, Un reports said.

Transforming Education is the theme for this year, which comes at a time when the world is facing a “learning crisis”, says Mr Guterres, and students need not only to learn, “but to learn how to learn”.

The UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), which is co-organising the Day alongside the UN Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO), says that statistics demonstrate that significant transformations are still required to make education systems more inclusive and accessible: only 10% of people have completed upper secondary education in low income countries; 40 % of the global population is not taught in a language they speak or fully understand; and over 75 % of secondary school age refugees are out of school.

Ensuring access to inclusive and equitable education, and promoting lifelong learning, is one of the goals of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and International Youth Day 2019, will present examples that show how education is changing to meet modern challenges.

The role of young people as champions of inclusive and accessible education is also being highlighted, as youth-led organizations are helping to transform education, through lobbying, advocacy, and partnerships with educational institutions.

“Education today should combine knowledge, life skills and critical thinking”, said Mr. Guterres. It should include information on sustainability and climate change. And it should advance gender equality, human rights and a culture of peace”.

All these elements are included in Youth 2030, the UN’s strategy to scale up global, regional and national actions to meet young people’s needs, realize their rights and tap their possibilities as agents of change.