There are renewed calls for more funding to hire additional education staff in Ontario.
The provincial NDP says it is necessary to stem the rise of violence in the classroom.
A published report suggests incidents of violence are up 77 percent since 2018, with over 4,400 incidents reported over the last school year.
Education Critic Chandra Pasma blames cuts in education that have led to fewer education assistants, mental health supports and other support staff.
“Our kids are bearing the brunt of Doug Ford’s cuts to education, from larger class size to fewer EAs and support staff, to the lack of mental health professionals, and less supports for special needs students,” says Pasma.
“Our education workers and teachers shouldn’t have to put up with injuries as a routine part of the job.”
Pasma feels the trend can be reversed by hiring more qualified staff.
The NDP is also calling for a working group to review and adapt policies regarding workplace violence in the education sector.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees and its Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU) also wants increased funding for staffing and student supports.
“This is not just a spike — it’s a full-blown crisis,” states Joe Tigani, President of OSBCU, in a release.
“Violence is now a daily reality in Ontario schools, and the Ford government continues to ignore the evidence: the workers and students at the heart of this crisis.”
The OSBCUS released a report earlier this year that found 74.6% of education workers have been subject to violent or disruptive incidents in the workplace, over a third facing these incidents daily.
The Ford government introduced a bill in May that would require schools to implement School Resource Officer (SRO) programs if offered by local police services.
Tigani calls it nothing more than a smoke-and-mirrors distraction.
“It centralizes control and brings back policies that have already been proven to harm marginalized students. What students need are more education workers in classes to create the conditions that will prevent violent incidents from happening.”
