Latest news with #studentneeds
CTV News
4 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Food Bank of Waterloo Region sees fewer students, while overall usage is up
Record-breaking periods of high demand are something the Food Bank of Waterloo Region has seen several times over the last few years. 'The last three years have been really challenging for our community as a whole,' said Kim Wilhelm, Food Bank of Waterloo Region CEO. 'We've had record-breaking months of people accessing food assistance.' While overall usage is up, they're seeing a drop in the number of students accessing the food bank. 'Those who are in post-secondary school have additional pressures of tuition. They're not able to work as many hours as other people,' Wilhelm told CTV News on Wednesday. The data, however, points to a shift that has fewer students accessing the food bank's services. 'When we look at June 2025, there are about 750 students that identified as a student when they access food assistance. The good news is that's a 26 per cent decrease from last June 2024,' said Wilhelm. It's difficult to pinpoint why that may be, Wilhelm adds. It does come at a time when Conestoga College is seeing significant enrolment reductions due to the cap on international students. But the food bank does not track whether a student is domestic or international. 'When somebody who identifies as a student comes to one of our food programs, one of the first things we do is refer them back to their school food program for assistance,' said Wilhelm. Although, a spokesperson for Conestoga Students Inc., the student association for the college told CTV News in an email: 'CSI's on-campus food support programming paused for Spring semester while we work on a revamp we are announcing later this month.' CTV News also contacted Cheryl MacInnes, who helps supply Trinity Community Table's free lunch in Cambridge, about whether they've seen fewer international students. 'I cannot quantify the decrease in the number of international students,' MacInnes wrote in an email. 'We do not ask our guests where they are from. We offer food to all those in need.' What is clear is the overall increase in demand at the Food Bank of Waterloo Region. 'On average, we're finding that people are accessing it twice a month,' said Wilhelm. 'That's a five per cent increase in the number of people and a 13 per cent increase in the total visits from the prior June.'
BBC News
13-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
New facilities will nearly double Towcester school in size
A secondary school will nearly double in size when a range of new facilities based in a previously abandoned building Gateway School in Tiffield, near Towcester, Northamptonshire, educates 11-18 year-olds with additional social, emotional and mental health facilities, opening in September, will include a gym, food technology suite, science rooms, a drama studio, a multi-use games area and a horticulture area. "We are thrilled to unveil these new spaces, which have been thoughtfully designed to meet the evolving needs of our students," said Conor Renihan, the school's executive head teacher. "This expansion allows us to offer a richer, more diverse curriculum and a nurturing environment where every pupil can feel valued and supported." The existing sports hall and pool has been refurbished as part of the plans. The new facilities will complement the school's existing specialist areas for craft design and technology, art, music, motor vehicles, bricklaying, and hair and beauty."The long-term aim is to help students thrive, laying the foundation for successful adult lives beyond the school gates," West Northamptonshire Council said. Kathryn Shaw, a Reform UK councillor and the cabinet member for children, families and education at the authority, said: "This expansion is a vital investment in our pupils' futures."It's inspiring to see how this development will empower pupils to reach their full potential in the new school year." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
National Post
15-05-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Ontario's Students Deserve Better: the Ontario School Board Council of Unions Calls on the Ford Government to Immediately Address the Understaffing and Funding Crisis in Public Education Ahead of the Release of the Provincial Budget
Article content TORONTO — There is a crisis in public education in Ontario. Article content Article content Classrooms are frequently evacuated because of violent episodes, completely disrupting the learning environment for students. Educational Assistants are overburdened with work and students are not provided the supports they need. Libraries are closing for days at a time because school boards do not have the funds to keep libraries open. Our schools are not being cleaned properly because there are nowhere near enough custodians to keep up with the mounting workload. Too many Kindergarten students are denied the support of a Designated Early Childhood Educator in their classroom. Article content And it's Ontario's students who are suffering the most. They are being failed by a system that does not support them because of a chronic understaffing crisis created by consistent underfunding by the provincial government. Article content Today, the Ontario School Board of Unions (OSBCU) is calling on the Ford government to immediately address the ongoing funding crisis in public education and: Article content Commit to increase real per-pupil funding (including the restoration of all funding cuts due to inflation and enrolment growth) to improve student and staff supports; Commit to increase staffing in all education worker classifications to meet all student needs (including Educational Assistant support for all students who need it, Designated Early Childhood Educators in every classroom with kindergarten students, adequately staffed school offices and libraries, and clean and well maintained buildings); A meaningful plan to address the violence epidemic in schools; A plan to make schools accessible and inclusive for all students. Article content The school board sector has been defunded by over $2.3 billion in the 2024-25 school year alone, due to spending not keeping pace with inflation and enrolment growth. This number grows to $10.66 billion since the Ford government formed government, and $14.44 billion since 2012-2013. It is clear that Ontario has the resources to fund schools sufficiently to meet student needs and restore the world class education system Ontario students and parents deserve. Article content Public education in Ontario is at a breaking point. We can no longer allow our students and staff to deal with these conditions. We need an immediate surge in funding, we need properly staffed schools, and we need it now. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Article content
