Saying he’s spoken with parents who are concerned their children will fall behind while schools are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Premier Doug Ford has introduced the first phase of a new online portal ”Learn at Home”.

(@fordnation via Twitter)

”It doesn’t replace school,” Ford points out, ”but offers a great alternative as we approach the end of March Break.”

All public schools will be closed for at least another two weeks. 

If that should be extended then this program would be stepped up.

”The Learn At Home initiative will help mitigate ‘learning loss’ during this period of uncertainty,” adds Education Minister Stephen Lecce.

The at-home activities provide quick, easy access to some of Ontario’s best online kindergarten to Grade 12 resources produced by Ontario College of Teachers Educators.

Public broadcaster TVO  is changing its TV schedule to add more education programming during the day.

Meanwhile, there are 50 new cases in Ontario; the largest single day increase, bringing the provincial total to 308.