Op-ed
piece on education by Ontario Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty
Queen’s Park –
The following is the text of
an op-ed piece by Ontario Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty. It explains key
aspects of his recently-announced education platform, including his
guarantee to improve students’ test results and his plan to ensure
students continue learning until at least age 18. The length is 524 words
and can run any time.
McGuinty
education plan guarantees improved test results
By Dalton McGuinty
I
believe our kids deserve the best education. That’s why I have presented
a detailed and ambitious plan for education that includes a solid
guarantee that student achievement across the province will improve by 50
per cent.
After
seven years of the Harris-Eves government, half of our kids are not
meeting the basic standard for reading, writing and math, according to the
government's own province-wide tests.
I
will ensure that at least 75 per cent of our children meet that standard
within our first term in government. That’s a 50-per-cent increase.
It’s also a guarantee. If we fail to deliver on that guarantee, we
expect every voter to hold us accountable come the next election.
It’s
the first time that any major political party in Canada has set a
measurable standard for student achievement by which the public can judge
his government's performance.
My
plan to meet that standard is outlined in Excellence For All, a 21-page
education election platform booklet that is now available to the public.
A
key part of my education plan is Best Start, our plan to improve early
childhood education. Best Start will ensure that three quarters of all
households with children under four years of age are eligible for
assistance with their childcare costs. The Tories have slashed funding for childcare
spaces.
Another
key part of my plan is a real cap of 20 students per class in the
all-important early grades. Right now, more than a half million kids are
in classes of 26 or more.
Under
my plan, learning will become mandatory until age 18. Instead of allowing
kids to drop out of school and stop learning at age 16, Liberals will
require that young people keep learning, either in the classroom or in a
training or apprenticeship program, until the age of 18.
My
education plan also includes a comprehensive Safe Schools plan. This means
anti-bullying programs, a school safety hotline, and surveillance cameras
at entrances to keep intruders out.
Our
education plan also includes improved help for children with special
needs, turnaround teams that will be sent into failing schools, more
respect and training for teachers, and a funding formula that meets the
needs of diverse communities.
Once
in place, our plan will mark a dramatic change in approach to education.
As Liberals, we believe in investing in public education. This means
putting resources into our schools and classrooms by cancelling the
Tories' $2.2 billion tax cut for corporations, the Tories'
$500-million handout to private schools, and the Tories' wasteful
practice of spending upwards of $250
million on partisan government advertising.
Mike
Harris and Ernie Eves have severely damaged public education. Dalton
McGuinty and the Ontario Liberals are going to fix it. But we're going to
do more than that. We're going to make it stronger than ever.
Copies
of Excellence for All: The Ontario Liberal Plan for Education can
be requested by email at info@ontarioliberal.com or by calling
1-800-268-7250 ext. 358.
My
plan will improve public education and help our kids get better results.
My plan is detailed, practical, and puts the needs of our students first.
It will ensure excellence for all.
Dalton McGuinty, MPP for Ottawa South, is Leader
of the Official Opposition and Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party.
Contact: Tracey
Sobers 416-314-8975