Education memo shows Ford already looking ahead to school cuts

TORONTO — A new Ministry of Education memo is warning boards, teachers and education workers that this year’s funding is one-time money, so they should brace for coming layoffs.

“Doug Ford was cutting education and looking to fire as many as 10,000 teachers and education workers before the pandemic began. Parents and educators are worried that he’s already looking to make new cuts at the worst possible time,” said NDP Education critic Marit Stiles.

The Ministry of Education memo indicates that this year’s education funding is only for “one-time” staff, allowing schools to “maintain teaching and education worker positions” during the pandemic.

“Teachers and education workers that would have been laid off by Doug Ford were given an extra year, as a result of the pandemic, and we are still facing a teacher shortage” said Stiles. “This memo makes it pretty clear, Ford’s still planning to cut those jobs.

“When the Conservatives took office, students were already finding it too hard to get the one-on-one support they needed – class size hikes and staff layoffs were a terrible plan then, and an even worse plan now. Children have coped with trauma, loss and anxiety over the last year. They’re going to need more support than ever. It’s not time to cut at their expense – it’s time to invest in their well-being, recovery and future.”

*Memo attached.