Beyhan Farhadi, a post-doctoral researcher in the Faculty of Education at York University, discusses the relationship between educational policy, online learning, and equity during COVID-19. Farhadi says “the push for online learning is going to result in a lack of access to in-person programming.”

"Let's begin with the fact that online learning was perhaps most taken advantage of by people who could take their kids elsewhere, maybe to the cottage, and set them up on the Wi-Fi and they could learn and all of that is wonderful, but we know that isn't most people in this province," says Farhadi, "The push for more and more online education will mean that for most families in Ontario, it's going to result in a lack of access to in-person programming and shortcuts to public education."

"With an opt-out option, you can only opt-out if you've got an option to learn in person," continues Farhadi, "But even if you opt-out, you risk losing the funding. I think this is one instance where what we're hearing doesn't really match what reality is."

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