Equality and Fairness are Key to Educational Success

Report Raises Key Concerns for Education in Ontario

TORONTO, May 29, 2012 /CNW/ - The Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA) applauds People for Education for shining a spotlight on how critical the principles of equity and fairness are to continued success in education in Ontario, with the release of Making Connections Beyond School Walls, their 2012 Annual report about Ontario's publicly funded schools.

"Ensuring that every child has an equitable opportunity to learn, grow and achieve his or her full potential is the very foundation of a publicly funded education system," says Kevin O'Dwyer, president of the OECTA. "People for Education's report provides valuable feedback about what must and can be done to ensure that every student in every region of the province has access to, and benefits from, much needed supports and services."

Among the report's findings is that, where family incomes are higher students are often more able to access enriched programming, extra curricular activities, extended day programming, and newer classroom technologies and resources. Furthermore, if a family has the means to pay for a private assessment, they can move faster through the process of securing special education services for their child.

"OECTA urges the province to pursue recommendations made in the report that identify disparities in funding in schools, particularly in the areas of mental health, poverty and special education," adds O'Dwyer. "As our student population grows more diverse, ensuring equitable access for all students will continue to be key to unlocking any future success Ontario will have."

To read People for Education's full report, visit www.peopleforeducation.ca

OECTA represents the 43,000 professional women and men who teach all grades in publicly funded English Catholic schools in Ontario.

Michelle Despault
Director of Communications
416-925-2493 xtn 509
416-818-7533 (cell)
m.[email protected]