FREDERICTON, New Brunswick, March 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – As the one-year anniversary of pandemic restrictions and closures approaches, many of Canada’s five million elementary and secondary school students are still at risk to suffer a loss of their assets. Despite the heroic efforts of teachers and education officials, the gaps that already existed are widening.
Although many schools remain open, most operate on a limited schedule. Many learners have little or no access to the Internet, sufficient bandwidth, or home support. Education for francophone and linguistic minority learners is limited. Black, Indigenous and colored students are further disadvantaged by current systemic and structural inequalities.
New statement from the Canadian Association of Deans of Education argues that with accelerated vaccine rollouts across the country, the time has come for the pandemic to implement a stimulus package for Canada and for the education sector. Pandemics and other past disasters, both in Canada and abroad, make it clear that teachers play a vital role in social and economic recovery and emotional recovery.
“The disruption of learning has been a fact of life for the past year,” said Sharon Wahl, dean of education at the University of New Brunswick and president of the Canadian Association of Deans of Education. We believe the pandemic has forever changed the public education system. We call on Canadian provinces to invest in education and teacher training as part of a post-pandemic recovery strategy. “
Additional investments across the education sector are needed to meet the needs of teachers and learners, notes Sharon Wahl. “Teachers are well positioned to positively influence the recovery effort in the next phases of the pandemic, both by building confidence in vaccines and by meeting students’ learning and health needs. Mental Health. “
The Association of Canadian Deans of Education (ACDE), which brings together faculties, colleges, schools and departments of education, is dedicated to providing leadership in education across Canada. vocational and teacher training, educational research and policy. CELA’s statement entitled Education and teacher training: Preparing for a thriving Canada after the pandemic is on the site ACDE Web.
Contact Person: Katy Ellsworth
Managing Director, ACDE
+1 778 828-0415
[email protected]
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