Student-led group planning province-wide school walkout over lifting of mask mandate

By Alex Goudge

A student-led group will be holding a province-wide school walkout on Monday, March 21 to protest the Ontario government easing its mask mandate, which drops that same day.

The walkout is organized by Ontario Students For COVID Safety, and the goal is to show support for masking while pushing for access to testing and reporting of COVID-19 data within schools.

Grade 11 student Derek Song is among the organizers of the walkout, and feels the next few months could be 'disastrous' if the Ontario government drops its mask mandate and does not invest in HEPA filters, testing, and COVID reporting.

Song also feels the majority of teachers are supportive of continuing to require masks in schools.

“Most of them support continuing the mask mandate because they don't feel safe and they want more protection, and they've seen the Ministry [of Education] not communicate with them,” he told The Sam Laprade Show with guest host Derick Fage on Monday, March 14.

Song adds he will personally feel more comfortable with the mask mandate being lifted once more data supporting the decision is available.

Overall, he feels the impacts of COVID-19 in schools has been significant.

“All my students and friends have not learned a lot over virtual learning since you need the social interaction from your teachers and your friends, and a lot of clubs have been cancelled because of COVID,” Song explained.

You can listen to the full interview with Song below:

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