At tonight’s meeting of the Toronto District School Board, Trustees approved a motion calling on the Ministry of Education to incorporate Genocide education as compulsory learning. As part of the motion, Chair of the Board Robin Pilkey will make the following requests to the Minister of Education:

• That the Genocide: Historical and Contemporary Implications (CHG381), Grade 11, Locally Developed Course in TDSB, be accredited as part of the Ontario Curriculum as a “university” or “mixed” course.
• That genocide examples are a comprehensive study as part of the mandatory Canadian History Since World War I Grade 10 course; and,
• That the province convene a working group of experts to look critically at the Ontario curriculum to ensure that students graduate with a better understanding of human rights, and how to protect those rights and take effective action if they or others experience hate, racism or others forms of discrimination and violence.

The motion, which was passed unanimously by the Board, is also supported by a number of organizations including the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, Project Abraham, National Holodomor Education Committee, Liberation75 and the Armenian National Committee.

Quick Facts

• Encouraging Students to Investigate and Understand the Past to Think Critically about the Present and Future is a website that was created by the TDSB as a resource for staff and students to continue the important work of Holocaust and Genocide Education in honour of Liberation75.
• As per a Board decision in June 2019, the TDSB developed the Reporting and Responding to Racism and Hate Incidents Involving or Impacting Students in Schools (PR728) procedure to set clear expectations about the processes to be followed and the Board’s responsibilities in situations where there are acts of racism and hate.
• The TDSB’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan requires mandatory training for administrators in anti-oppression and anti-Black racism, as well as building capacity among educators to effectively co-lead learning in human rights, equity and anti-oppression.

“Now more than ever, we – as part of the public education system – have the responsibility to educate against hate. Our calls to action to the Ministry of Education will help ensure that students have the necessary knowledge of past atrocities so that they can actively fight against hatred of all forms, now and into the future.”

- Robin Pilkey, Chair, TDSB

“Genocide education is critical in fighting against intolerance, racism and hate. The TDSB looks forward to working with the Ministry of Education to ensure that Genocide education is compulsory learning for students across the province.”

- John Malloy, Director, TDSB

For more information, please contact:

Shari Schwartz-Maltz
Media Relations, TDSB
416-518-5551
Shari.Schwartz-maltz@tdsb.on.ca