Ontario encourages school boards to celebrate graduation as soon as it is safe to do so
“These kids have worked hard and they deserve to be recognised.”
TORONTO, ON., May 11, 2020 — Today, Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, issued a statement to all of Ontario school boards encouraging them to reschedule graduation ceremonies on input from local medical officers of health. He said students and parents deserve to celebrate these critical milestones and in some cases, this might mean holding ceremonies and proms during the summer or fall when it is safe to do so.
“Students have worked incredibly hard this school year, and we know that the COVID-19 outbreak has forced some schools to cancel or delay important milestones to recognize student achievement, such as prom and graduation ceremonies,” said Lecce.
“Students and parents deserve to celebrate many of these critical milestones — especially graduation ceremonies,” said Lecce. “These kids have worked hard and they deserve to be recognised,” he said.
Lecce said that although although the spread of COVID-19 in Ontario is slowing, “it may still be some time before schools and boards are able to offer the kinds of ceremonies and traditions in the same way they have in previous years.”
After speaking with graduating students and their parents, Lecce said he firmly believes “Ontario students deserve this positive conclusion to their academic journey, even if ceremonies are delayed.”
“Despite this uncertainty, I am encouraging boards to reschedule these events based on input from local medical officers of health. In some cases, this might mean facilitating graduation ceremonies and proms during the summer or fall when it is safe to do so,” said Lecce.
“These are important events for all students and their families,” said Lecce. “While students in Ontario have been incredibly flexible and eager in the transition to Learn at Home, we know that the support of their parents and guardians has been critical in rapidly shifting toward a newer model of learning.
“Students and parents deserve to celebrate many of these critical milestones — especially graduation ceremonies — and I expect boards to preserve these opportunities to proudly recognize the incredible success and achievement resulting from the hard work of our students,”concluded Lecce.
The province has yet to make a decision on whether students will be going back to school this year, but it is expected to come by the end of this week.
