EDUCATION

Canada has one of the most educated populations in the world, however, many including young people facing barriers are not privy to the same educational opportunities that others are due to their race, financial background or postal code. Issues ranging from inconsistent curriculum delivery depending on the geography and economics of the area in which the school was located, streaming, lack of equity and unconscious bias training for teachers, inconsistent funding for schools from the Ministry of education depending on location and an outdated and non-equitable curriculum are present across our system in Ontario.

Here's a breakdown of some of those issues:

● Rights Based Education: There is no systemically
   mandated rights-based education as part of the
   school’s curriculum. Youth and teachers need to
   understand what it means for youth to have rights as
   a way of combatting systemic discrimination.

● Equity: Indigenous, Black and LGBTQ students are
   most disproportionately impacted by the current
   curriculum and systemic discrimination and justice
   system involvement.

● Segregation: According to our education experts
   there is economic and racial segregation within the
   school systems,  “private schools within public
   schools.”

● Inconsistent Funding: Provincial funding standards
   are inconsistent when it comes to schools due to
   geography, size and need, there is 35% less funding
   for First Nations schools.

● Talent Gaps in Marginalized Areas: There must be
   incentives for teachers to teach at schools that are in
   marginalized neigbourhoods and those that are under
   resourced.

Laidlaw is actively working with educators and grantees working to improve some of these issues through our Youth Action Fund for more information please contact us at info@laidlawfdn.org.

Email: info@laidlawfdn.org

Phone: 416.964.3614

 

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