PARRY SOUND, ON – Funding amounts to help students in the central Ontario region have been confirmed.
Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Norm Miller said in a release that over $2 million is being invested in math skills for students in school boards in Parry Sound, Muskoka and Haliburton.
He also announced a change in the Career Studies Course for Grade 10 students.
“I am proud that our government is investing more than $2 million in school boards that serve Parry Sound-Muskoka to help our students build the math knowledge and skills they need to succeed now, and in the future,” said Miller.
Ontario’s student math scores have been notoriously low in recent years and education minister Stephen Lecce made an announcement earlier this week ear-marking $6 million toward Summer Math and other learning programs.
“We are listening to parents and educators. Ontario students need greater support to strengthen their math skills to achieve success in school and in their careers. This investment provides our young people with access to the skills they need to enter the workforce with confidence, and further underscores our government’s focus on STEM in the classroom,” said Stephen Lecce.
School boards serving Parry Sound, Muskoka and Haliburton will receive the following funding allocations:
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Near North DSB – $468,000
Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic DSB – $188,000
Simcoe Muskoka Catholic DSB – $673,500
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Trillium Lakelands DSB – $555,500
Conseil Scolaire Catholique Franco-Nord – $238,584
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Miller said the new focus on career studies will be an important pathway for the future of our young people.
“We are focused on preparing students for the opportunities of tomorrow. The new Career Studies course will help students further explore growth industries, plan their future, and succeed in the real world,” said Miller. “I am pleased to see the emphasis on careers in the skilled trades and on financial literacy.”
The new focus will include:
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• Financial management and budgeting;
• Careers in high-growth industries such as the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
(STEM) disciplines;
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• Social media usage and its implications for students
• Transferable skills such as creativity, collaboration, and technological fluency.
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In Parry Sound-Muskoka, the Near North District School Board, Trillium Lakelands District School Board and CSDC Franco-Nord are offering a three-week, math-focused Summer Learning Program for students in Kindergarten to Grade 5. This will help students who require additional supports minimize summer learning loss, build confidence, increase skills, and have greater success during the regular school year.
There is also an online option for remote learning available.
The online resource, called Math at Home, will help support student learning, mitigate against summer learning loss and ensure parents are aware of opportunities to help prepare their child for success in math. Parents can access this resource at by clicking here.