There are better ways to broaden learning access than the Ontario Online Institute, says a coalition of post-secondary students, staff and educators in a report release today 

December 2, 2010

Toronto–In response to the stated intentions of the Ontario government to expand and increase the availability of post-secondary education by creating an Ontario Online Institute, students, staff and faculty have jointly released Opening Ontario For Whom? A sectoral vision for integrating online learning into the classroom. The document identifies concerns about online learning and recommends better ways to broaden access for qualified college and university applicants.

"The government’s stated plan to create a new Online Institute would be a costly addition to infrastructure that already exists and works," says Constance Adamson, Vice-President of the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations. "Students, faculty and staff believe the province should build on the wealth of expertise that faculty and staff in Ontario institutions have accumulated in developing and providing e-learning opportunities for students."

The coalition, representing more than 300,000 college and university students and 50,000 professors and workers in the post-secondary education sector across the province, is calling on the provincial government to make targeted investments to improve access to post-secondary learning and cautions against expanding online education with the goal of generating revenue.

"Students are united with faculty and staff in their opposition to any government initiative that expands online education as a way to save money," says Sandy Hudson, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario. "Any investments to online education must aim to enhance academic quality, reduce class sizes and make post-secondary education more accessible and affordable for students."

The coalition calls on the government to spend its money improving the existing online infrastructure for distance learning instead of creating another provincial bureaucracy. The recommendations include investing in already-existing e-learning initiatives, expanding broadband access throughout the province and reducing the cost of online education for students.

The document can be found at this link.