How you can help stand up against cuts to publicly funded education
The Ford government is misleading Ontarians about the province’s finances and the state of our publicly funded education system, while making cuts that will have long-term consequences for everyone.
Ontario has one of the best education systems in the world. Our students regularly perform at or near the top on national and international assessments, and we are widely regarded for our commitment to equity and inclusion. But we need to build on this success by making further investments to ensure that every student is able to reach their full potential.
Instead, the Ford government is increasing class sizes, eliminating teaching positions, and forcing high school students to take some courses through e-learning. Some classes, including core subjects such as math, could grow to 40 students or more. Other course options, including specialized arts, science, and technology classes, may not be offered at all. These cuts will have the greatest impact on our most vulnerable students.
Ontario’s Catholic teachers are opposing these cuts by encouraging Ontarians to educate themselves about the issues and reach out to their local representatives. You can help by visiting knowmore.ca, where you will find valuable information, factsheets, and shareable images and videos. You can also contact your local MPP and tell them to stop the cuts to publicly funded education.
Together, we can advocate for the investments our schools and students need to succeed.
CONFERENCE BOARD OF CANADA REPORT PROVIDES AN ECONOMIC ARGUMENT FOR INVESTING IN EDUCATION
A new report produced by the Conference Board of Canada provides solid evidence that provincial cuts to public education are not consistent with good fiscal policy. The Economic Case for Investing in Education examines the impact of public education on the economy in Ontario.
The report’s key findings include:
- Each dollar invested in public education generates $1.30 in total economic impacts to Ontario. At the same time, the inverse holds true for each dollar taken from public education.
- Public education can generate social benefits, such as a healthier population, a higher standard of living, and a reduction in crime. That lessens demand for Ontario’s social assistance, public health care, and criminal justice services.
- Through increased investment in public education, Ontario could lift its high school graduation rates to 90.0 per cent, matching the highest in the country and seeing average fiscal savings of $16.4 million per year. That could accrue to total savings of $3.5 billion over the course of two decades.
- In a reverse scenario, where high school graduation rates instead fall to 82.6 per cent, Ontario would spend an additional $18.0 million each year. Over a 20-year period, that could amount to total fiscal costs of $3.8 billion.
- Each additional high school graduate saves the Ontario government (on average) $2,767 each year on social assistance, health care, and criminal justice, while each additional high school non-completer costs the province $3,128 each year.
The findings are a clear indication that investment in public education benefits all of us by bolstering the economy and potentially reducing the costs of other programs and services. It’s also clear that cutting education damages the economy, and that hurts all of us.
TO LEARN MORE, VISIT betterschoolsstrongereconomy.ca
