As an essential part of Ontario’s education system, teachers play a vital role in shaping the future of students. They work tirelessly to ensure that students receive the best education possible. But like any other profession, teaching requires a fair and reasonable contract that benefits teachers, students, and the education system as a whole. In this article, we will discuss the teacher’s contract in Ontario for 2020.
The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) represents high school teachers across Ontario, with 60,000 members. Their collective agreement expired at the end of August 2019, which led to a province-wide strike. Following months of negotiation between the OSSTF and the government, the two parties reached a tentative agreement in March 2020, which was ratified by OSSTF members in June 2020.
The new contract includes a 1% salary increase each year for the next three years, beginning in September 2019, and ending in August 2022. Other key elements of the contract include:
Class size and composition: The new agreement incorporates the government`s commitment to class size and composition, which ensures that class sizes remain at the current level of 22 students per class on average.
Online learning: The government`s initial plan to make e-learning courses mandatory for high school students was met with backlash from the OSSTF. The new contract includes a compromise that requires students to take a minimum of two online courses during their high school career.
Mental health support: The government has agreed to invest an additional $20 million annually in mental health support for students.
Sick leave: The new contract includes provisions for an additional five sick days for long-term occasional teachers, bringing their total to 15 days per year.
Overall, the new contract is viewed as a victory for the OSSTF, as it includes several important gains for teachers. However, some education experts feel that the agreement falls short in addressing the larger systemic issues within Ontario`s education system.
In conclusion, the new 2020 teacher`s contract in Ontario is a significant development for the province`s education system. It provides teachers with a much-needed salary increase and includes several provisions that benefit students and teachers alike. Nevertheless, there is still much work to be done to address the broader concerns around funding and resources in Ontario schools.
