Parents of children who need educational support staff speak-out on in-person learning order

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    As the educational support staff strike continues across Edmonton Public Schools, Alberta's Education Minister signing an order to allow some at home learning. But parents of children who require educational assistance say it's not enough.

    As the educational support staff strike continues across Edmonton Public Schools — Alberta’s education minister signed an order to allow some at-home learning, but parents of children who require educational assistance say it’s not enough.

    “For my son, the online learning doesn’t work. We’re doing our best in a horrible situation,” explained Brad Boyd, the parent of a Grade 6 child with autism.

    Since the education support staff strike began, he’s only been able to send his son to school in person a few days a week, saying at home learning is depriving his son of an education.

    “The idea of using a ministerial order under the guise of safety for kids who need a hand up, to me is just absurd,” said Boyd.

    The educational support staff strike is now in its third week as Edmonton public and the union representing support staff have yet to reach a deal over wages.

    “We’re in this situation where schools are so underfunded that you have a game being played with government and school boards when it comes to bargaining, and caught in the middle are students who have disabilities who are being told not to go to school,” explained Jason Schilling, the president of the Alberta Teacher’s Association.

    The head of the group representing Alberta’s teachers is frustrated to learn the Minister of Education granted a ministerial order providing an exemption to in-person learning for students who require educational support staff where it may risk student safety. 

    “Well, they have a right to education in this province, and they seem to be pawns in this game, and I just think it’s inherently unfair,” said Schilling.

    CityNews reached out to Alberta’s Education Ministry for a response and was told that schools still have the option for in-person learning.

    “Each school board has the autonomy to determine the best approach to meet the learning needs of their students and ensure that all students receive the support they require. Additionally, school boards are mandated by Alberta’s government to make reasonable efforts to continue in-person learning for students with complex learning needs.”

    But for parents like Boyd, they’re stuck navigating the strike with their children, adding being out of the classroom is losing more than just an education.

    “My son has connections that he has made and he is missing. It’s also disrupted his social, like with his buddies, because the same kids aren’t in the class,” said Boyd.

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