English Catholic and French-language teachers across the province will spend the day Thursday walking the picket line.
The Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) and Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-Ontariens (AEFO) are moving ahead with the planned strike action despite the Ford government's decision to back off its plan for bigger class sizes and mandatory e-learning.
As a result of the job action, Catholic and French schools across the province are closed for the day.
The unions had been calling on the government to move away from its plan to increase class sizes and introduce mandatory e-learning. On Tuesday, Education Minister Stephen Lecce said at a news conference the province would only increase the average high school class size to 23 next year, down from the 28 originally proposed. He also said they would allow students to opt-out of e-learning courses.
OECTA President Liz Stuart stated the move would still lead to job losses and fewer courses for students.
The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation is holding one-day walk-outs at nine school boards across the province Thursday.
