“With the release of its education funding announcement for 2025-26 (Core Education Funding), the Ford Conservative government continues its disingenuous claim that it is providing ‘record funding’ to schools.
This could not be further from the truth.
This year’s modest increase does not begin to make up for almost eight years of chronic underfunding, which has had a devastating impact on our students, including:
- Overcrowded classrooms
- Almost 3,400 fewer teachers – a growing teacher recruitment and retention crisis, with more classes being covered by unqualified and uncertified people
- Lost programs and services that school boards have been forced to cut
- Rising violence in schools, with more teachers and other school staff reporting burnout
- More than 2,000 schools in disrepair
- A lack of basic school supplies, like paper, pencils, and textbooks
Ontario’s future starts in our classrooms with our students, but their futures – and Ontario’s – are being threatened by Doug Ford’s cuts.
A real plan would be built on what students need to succeed. Ontario’s success starts with making students and schools a priority, by making real investments in:
- Safe and modern schools
- A real plan to address the teacher shortage
- Lower class sizes so students get more dedicated, one-on-one attention from their teachers
- Enhanced mental health services in schools, with expanded school-based resources, supports, and services
Our message to Doug Ford is simple: stop the cuts and start working meaningfully with teachers, education workers, and parents. Let’s work together to best support our students and invest in Ontario’s future.”
- René Jansen in de Wal, President of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association