In a recent turn of events, Ontario’s Education Minister, Stephen Lecce, has expressed strong disapproval of the Waterloo Region District School Board’s (WRDSB) decision to close schools for the upcoming total solar eclipse. Originally, the WRDSB had planned to keep schools open on April 8, citing it as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity’ for students. However, just days before the event, the board reversed its decision, opting for a day of asynchronous learning instead.
Lecce criticized the sudden change, calling it “entirely unacceptable” and stressing that children should be in school, engaging with their educators. He emphasized the importance of live access to teachers and urged the board to reconsider its decision. The Education Minister’s statement highlighted the challenges faced by families who had to make alternative childcare arrangements with little notice.
The WRDSB issued an apology to affected families and clarified that teachers are expected to be at work on April 8. However, instead of traditional classroom instruction, they will be involved in school learning and improvement planning, alongside supporting student learning asynchronously.
This decision has also impacted other schools in Ontario, with several Catholic schools in the Waterloo Region opting to close on Monday due to concerns about students looking directly at the solar eclipse while walking home.
