Most Ontario grads skipped mandatory e-learning
Data shows 104,000 students opted out or were exempt from the Ford government's two-course requirement in 2024—far outpacing the 46,000 who completed it.
More than 70 per cent of Ontario's 2024 graduating class avoided the province's mandatory e-learning requirement despite being the first cohort subject to the rule.
Data obtained by CBC News reveals that 104,000 students opted out or were exempt from taking two online courses, compared to just over 46,000 who completed them. Students can opt out with parental consent if they're 18 or have withdrawn from parental care.
The figures sparked debate at Queen's Park. Liberal MPP Rob Cerjanec told Education Minister Paul Calandra that "students and parents don't want [e-learning]" and accused the government of trying to "save money on the backs of future generations by pushing digital materials."
Calandra defended the program, noting that students in remote communities have benefited from online courses they couldn't access otherwise. "It's about optionality for the students," he said.
The data does not break down which courses students completed or when, making it difficult to assess whether e-learning is actually improving access or simply offering choice that most families reject.