Type of Intervention: Other Announcement
Sectors Involved: Education
Intervention Categories: Finance policy and financial aid; Aid distributed to community groups
Level of Jurisdiction: Ontario
Lead People/Agency: Minister of Education (Stephen Lecce), Rogers Communications, Apple (decision-makers)
Ontario school boards (implementers)
Overview: The Ontario government has partnered with Apple and Rogers Communications to support the educational needs of Ontario students and their families. Ontario school boards are purchasing iPads, pre-equipped with free Rogers LTE data to make technology more accessible for students. Apple is also providing French and English support to teachers, parents, and students to support learning and working from homes. Rogers Communications is also working with school boards to provide high-speed, low-cost internet to subsidized tenants and members of housing partners across the province.
Full details here: https://news.ontario.ca/edu/en/2020/04/ontario-establishes-key-partnerships-to-make-home-learning-more-accessible.html
Type of Justification: Offering support
Source of Evidence or Justification: Sub-national, Ministry of Education
Evidence/Justification: The justification for this partnership is to offer support to Ontario students and their families to make online learning more accessible. The Minister of Education explains that this policy aims to enhance equity so that students can continue learning effectively, irrespective of ability, geography, or socioeconomic circumstance.