The Toronto District Faculty Board has accepted spending nearly $6 million to rent extra workers to assist the psychological well being and well-being of scholars.
Throughout a particular board assembly, trustees unanimously accepted the hiring of 106 workers members – 16 of which shall be social employees to assist college students cope with the affect of the continuing pandemic.
The expenditure comes within the wake of a report launched earlier this week that highlighted the affect the pandemic is having on the psychological well being and well-being of scholars.
The survey of virtually 25,000 college students discovered that whereas issues have improved over final 12 months, since September 5 in 10 college students say they really feel fearful or nervous on a regular basis whereas six in 10 say they really feel beneath lots of stress or stress on a regular basis. College students in larger grades have been extra more likely to report feeling nervous, fearful or confused.
The report additionally discovered that whereas the variety of suspensions are down general when in comparison with 2018 and 2019 – doubtless as a consequence of COVID-19 interruptions and the dearth of in-person studying – there was a noticeable improve within the conflicts between college students in Kindergarten as much as Grade 12. The variety of incidents requiring 20 day suspensions (27) is significantly larger when in comparison with the identical intervals in 2018 and 2019.
“This is likely one of the largest will increase in funding for psychological well being and well-being on the TDSB in years,” mentioned TDSB chair Alexander Brown, who famous that whereas the expenditure is for the present college 12 months, they’re hoping to proceed the extra helps into 2022-2023.
“Now, greater than ever, our college students want extra helps as we proceed to maneuver via the pandemic.”
