Study shows inequities of online learning in Ontario

A new study shows the sudden transition by Ontario schools to distance learning has exposed the profound inequities around funding and availability of the technological supports necessary for effective online education.

The Ministry of Education closed schools in mid-march in the fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic, leaving students and teachers adjusting to a new world of virtual learning.

The People For Education, an independent organization that works to support and advance public education, released a technology in schools report Wednesday detailing a system that lacks adequate infrastructure.

“It shows students’ access to technology in Ontario schools is currently governed by a disputed policy and funding, and often depends on parent fundraising,” according to the PFE website. “The pandemic exposes critical and long standing inequities in the education system and also provided an opportunity to examine much more deeply how we are currently using technology in our schools and what the potential for online learning could be.”

Researchers collected data from 1,159 Ontario schools last year.

It showed 65 per cent of elementary schools and 18 per cent of high schools in the province rely on fundraising to offset technology costs.

It also revealed per pupil funding to support the hard costs of computers and software in schools has not increased in 10 years.

“In technology terms, that is an eon,” said Annie Kidder, PFE’S executive director. “Technology is not just about the machine, it’s about a whole strategy. There has to be a comprehensive policy and funding out of that.”

Principals responding to the technology survey reported issues with unreliable internet in rural areas, insufficient supply of devices and a lack of staff to oversee and support online learning.

The survey showed only 66 per cent of Ontario schools have access to wall-to-wall Wi-fi and only 56 per cent of secondary schools have designated staff members to support students taking e-learning courses.

“What has happened during the COVID crisis, it has shone a light on the inequality issues many knew were there before but it’s really exposed them,” Kidder said. “And it’s not just access to the internet, it’s much, much bigger than that.”

The survey also showed only 43 per cent of high schools have school laptops or computers available for e-learners after school hours.

When local schools closed, both the Windsor-essex Catholic District School Board and the Greater Windsor Essex District School Board each had to loan out almost 2,000 devices to students in need of technology for home use.

“In Canada and the U.K. not all students can get online,” said Caroline Schaal, British co-founder of an online education program offered in Windsor. “Students doing online study often do it in a place where they have to share computers and it’s not quiet. A lot of children are not able to get all the benefits of online learning.”

Schaal and Lakeshore native Andrea Silani founded Lift Lessons last year as an online education support.

“I think online learning has a huge part to play in education moving forward and there are so many opportunities for blending really good online learning opportunities with in-class learning,” Silani said.

People For Education is recommending the government develop a comprehensive grant to support technology and the implementation of e-learning.

PFE also recommends the government provide additional funding for e-learning teachers to oversee those students.

It also calls on the province to delay its policy of introducing mandatory e-learning in schools until the fall of 2021 and conduct consultation and engagement with experts, educators, board staff, parents, and students to ensure e-learning is appropriately supported and delivered, and its benefits understood.