Opening Primary and Secondary Schools for International Students!

[lalaland2020]

"Primary and secondary schools are NOT approved to reopen to international students at this time."

So far 7 provinces and territories have opened to international students (elementary and secondary. Can anyone explain why Ontario is not added to the list yet?? My grade 11 brother and I are stuck in Europe even though we have been living in Canada for the last 7 years. Because York University is on the DLI list I received my study permit approval however my brother has not received his permit yet because ONTARIO is not added.

Is anyone in the same position?

 

[Aaron0111]

Same, I am a grade 11 student and still waits for the new change for secondary school

 

[lalaland2020]

Same, I am a grade 11 student and still waits for the new change for secondary school

I am sorry you are going through this especially during such a critical time of your school year, I am positive that Ontario will be updated by next round. In the mean time stay updated with this link, they have updated information: https://caps-i.ca/covid-19-update/

*Also both my brother and I and another international student have been writing emails to our local MP's which you can find their email on this site: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en
-find the area you live in and the MP for your local area and they will respond to you.

*I also suggest writing to this email explaining your case: Minister.EDU@ontario.ca and stephen.lecce@pc.ola.org

*If you have instagram, add Stephen Lecce, he is the Minister of Education for Ontario and private message or dm him explaining your case and how you need to come back to Ontario to continue your studies and how the travel ban has affected you*

*I also suggest you write directly write an email to your high school to see if they have been pushing for the government to approve them*

Hang in there I am positive they will open Ontario soon

 

[Aaron0111]

I am sorry you are going through this especially during such a critical time of your school year, I am positive that Ontario will be updated by next round. In the mean time stay updated with this link, they have updated information: https://caps-i.ca/covid-19-update/

*Also both my brother and I and another international student have been writing emails to our local MP's which you can find their email on this site: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en
-find the area you live in and the MP for your local area and they will respond to you.

*I also suggest writing to this email explaining your case: Minister.EDU@ontario.ca and stephen.lecce@pc.ola.org

*If you have instagram, add Stephen Lecce, he is the Minister of Education for Ontario and private message or dm him explaining your case and how you need to come back to Ontario to continue your studies and how the travel ban has affected you*

*I also suggest you write directly write an email to your high school to see if they have been pushing for the government to approve them*

Hang in there I am positive they will open Ontario soon

I don't know man, the Ontario new cases have increased to 1,000 per day, which is bascially why they don't have as many dli on the list as other provinces

 

[Aaron0111]

I am sorry you are going through this especially during such a critical time of your school year, I am positive that Ontario will be updated by next round. In the mean time stay updated with this link, they have updated information: https://caps-i.ca/covid-19-update/

*Also both my brother and I and another international student have been writing emails to our local MP's which you can find their email on this site: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en
-find the area you live in and the MP for your local area and they will respond to you.

*I also suggest writing to this email explaining your case: Minister.EDU@ontario.ca and stephen.lecce@pc.ola.org

*If you have instagram, add Stephen Lecce, he is the Minister of Education for Ontario and private message or dm him explaining your case and how you need to come back to Ontario to continue your studies and how the travel ban has affected you*

*I also suggest you write directly write an email to your high school to see if they have been pushing for the government to approve them*

Hang in there I am positive they will open Ontario soon

Did you ask them yet?

 

[lalaland2020]

Did you ask them yet?

I know the cases are high but Quebec is number 1 with highest cases a and they still opened up. I have messaged Stephen Lecce and he responded with "we are taking action to fix this" then I messaged again and he responded with "we are working on this". I have also spoken to the Canadian Association of Public Schools International and they've reassured me that if not by 17th November, then the 4th DLI update (December 1) should be updated. She explained that unlike other provinces, Ontario was late at providing the "plan" which is why other provinces were added first because they submitted on time. It is still not a definite no it just may be admitted by the 4th round... but I think you should message those that I have mentioned, the more the better.

 

[canuck78]

I know the cases are high but Quebec is number 1 with highest cases a and they still opened up. I have messaged Stephen Lecce and he responded with "we are taking action to fix this" then I messaged again and he responded with "we are working on this". I have also spoken to the Canadian Association of Public Schools International and they've reassured me that if not by 17th November, then the 4th DLI update (December 1) should be updated. She explained that unlike other provinces, Ontario was late at providing the "plan" which is why other provinces were added first because they submitted on time. It is still not a definite no it just may be admitted by the 4th round... but I think you should message those that I have mentioned, the more the better.

For high school not sure why your brother would want to relocate when I assume he has already been attending high school in Europe. Ontario public schools have had a hard enough trying to staff both in person and online education so taking on additional international students is likely impossible until the system can accomodate the students already in Canada.

 

[Bluejayscardinals]

https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/ugdsb-preparing-to-allow-international-students-back-into-schools-2829057

I would suggest you read this. Sounds like it is a matter of time but boards have not got their act together.

 

[lalaland2020]

For high school not sure why your brother would want to relocate when I assume he has already been attending high school in Europe. Ontario public schools have had a hard enough trying to staff both in person and online education so taking on additional international students is likely impossible until the system can accomodate the students already in Canada.

My brothers case is different, we live in Canada and have been living for the past 7 years. We left to Europe for family matter July 2020 and were stuck here due to the ban (we lived in Canada on special visa). So my brother is still in the high school he has been going to since we moved to Canada but now he is attending it online ... so we are not new international students we are already established. REGARDLESS with proper quarantine high school students will be able to safely re-join schools in Ontario because they only need to quarantine.

 

[lalaland2020]

https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/ugdsb-preparing-to-allow-international-students-back-into-schools-2829057

I would suggest you read this. Sounds like it is a matter of time but boards have not got their act together.

I've spoken with the CAPS-I (Canadian association public schools) and she told me that unlike other provinces, Ontario was late when it came to submitting the proper plan to the federal government. She doesn't know why they were late but they were. So she assured me that if not by the 17th of November then in following weeks Ontario will be added its just a matter of submitting the plan which they already have, on time. Ontario can't say no to international students because they will lose a lot of money and credibility since students will move to other provinces.

 

[canuck78]

My brothers case is different, we live in Canada and have been living for the past 7 years. We left to Europe for family matter July 2020 and were stuck here due to the ban (we lived in Canada on special visa). So my brother is still in the high school he has been going to since we moved to Canada but now he is attending it online ... so we are not new international students we are already established. REGARDLESS with proper quarantine high school students will be able to safely re-join schools in Ontario because they only need to quarantine.

Whether you are temporarily living in Canada priority will always be given to domestic students. Until the boards have enough teachers to teach all the domrestic students it becomes very hard to open up to international students. Assume that eventually the program will reopen but due to the second wave the priority has been elsewhere in Ontario.

 

[lalaland2020]

Whether you are temporarily living in Canada priority will always be given to domestic students. Until the boards have enough teachers to teach all the domrestic students it becomes very hard to open up to international students. Assume that eventually the program will reopen but due to the second wave the priority has been elsewhere in Ontario.

With all due respect, how come Quebec which has more schools than Ontario and is now number 1 with highest COVID cases (Ontario 2nd) has opened opened to international students. Ontario won't reject international students as you can see everywhere, doing so will hurt the economy as well as the credibility of Ontario. Every province (except Nova Scotia and Newfoundland) has opened up to international students (with proper quarantine plan) so Ontario won't be the only province not doing so.

Also, Ontario is changing its ways to live with the virus since they are re-opening gyms and restaurants etc. Private schools in Ontario are welcoming and willing to teach domestic and int'l students, so if public schools don't want to open then let private schools open since they are willing to do so and they are opened already. We have paid ($32,000/year) already for my brothers tuition yet he is learning online with different time zones.

 

[canuck78]

I've spoken with the CAPS-I (Canadian association public schools) and she told me that unlike other provinces, Ontario was late when it came to submitting the proper plan to the federal government. She doesn't know why they were late but they were. So she assured me that if not by the 17th of November then in following weeks Ontario will be added its just a matter of submitting the plan which they already have, on time. Ontario can't say no to international students because they will lose a lot of money and credibility since students will move to other provinces.

It is a balance same as the post secondary students. It makes no sense to open up the boarders to international studehnts studying online based on public health reasons but there was economic pressure on the provinces by the schools to open up the borders. Some students are not taking into account that many won't be able to find part-time jobs if they come to Canada and many are not following quarantine rules because of the cost associated with it. It makes no sense for so many people to arrive in Canada from covid hot spots without at least some covid testing especially students go to all over the country and often to smaller communities without covid.

 

[lalaland2020]

It is a balance same as the post secondary students. It makes no sense to open up the boarders to international studehnts studying online based on public health reasons but there was economic pressure on the provinces by the schools to open up the borders. Some students are not taking into account that many won't be able to find part-time jobs if they come to Canada and many are not following quarantine rules because of the cost associated with it. It makes no sense for so many people to arrive in Canada from covid hot spots without at least some covid testing especially students go to all over the country and often to smaller communities without covid.

PLEASEEEEEE explain to me why its okay for Canadians to travel abroad to COVID hot spots for vacation such as in the US and Europe (now its closed)? it makes 0 sense to me as to why that's okay when international students are stricly coming to Canada for studying purposes. International students have a lot at risk so they won't jeapordize their status by going against the rules. However, many Canadians are the ones going to the hot spots and dangering Canadian lives. ALSO back in July, Canada allowed international students who are from the US to join Canada for their studies.

 

[alexct2020]

7 years? Wow and I thought I had it bad with not being able to come back right now after my 1 year university exchange year, to finish my Bachelor degree in Canada.

Have you tried e-mailing them with evidence that you're a returning student, who is basically 'resident' (not PR that's not needed in this case) in Canada? Canadian driver's license, rent payment, bank account, social ties etc. I know under the old rules it would have likely allowed your little brother's return to Canada.

In that case I would even call the embassy, they might not be able to do something but it never hurts to explain a special case.

All of the rules and 80% of the things you read on this forum are/is meant for new students who don't have any ties to Canada, but 7 years is a long time and they might well take special consideration.

I think one reason why borders are closed at the Secondary School level is, because most people attending at that level, come for a 1 year or less language exchange to learn English or just because they want to broaden their horizons (programs like Education First), which is obviously not essential right now. But that doesn't seem to apply to you guys.