Thread by @TorontoStar

Students switching back and forth between in-school and online learning due to COVID-19 are struggling and will need significant supports in place to help close learning gaps, say the Canada's leading pediatric experts urging Ontario to start making plans.
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It's not just mental health issues. Experts add academic regression, diminished literacy levels, significant decreases in physical activity and increases in screen time and widening inequities, particularly among racialized children and youth.
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“We are urging your government to look ahead at the crisis to come." Toronto pediatrician Dr. Eddy Lau, a member of the society’s board of directors, said the government’s policy decisions have tended to be “reactive” instead of proactive thestar.com/politics/provi…

Lau said the turmoil of the past year is “having such a huge impact on children and I think there comes a time when we are saying we really need to have well-structured and well-thought out advanced planning.”

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The Netherlands and the U.K. have conducted research showing about one to two months’ of learning loss and pledged hundreds of millions of dollars to help close that gap in part through tutoring. thestar.com/politics/provi…