Teacher shortage sends students home from Franco-Cite high school

Students in Grades 7 and 8 at Franco-Cité high school will be learning from home Wednesday, Sept. 30 and Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020 because of a shortage of teachers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

OTTAWA — Ottawa's French catholic school board says students in Grades 7 and 8 at Franco-Cité high school will be learning from home Wednesday and Thursday because of a shortage of teachers.

In a statement to CTV News, the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE) said a high rate of absenteeism and a lack of substitutes led to the decision.

“Due to a high rate of absenteeism among the teaching staff and a lack of substitute teachers and supervisors, the 7th and 8th grade students at Franco-Cité school will have to stay at home and take their courses remotely today and tomorrow,” a board spokesperson said.

The board did not say why so many teachers were absent but, earlier this month, the CECCE said it was facing a shortage of as many as 90 teachers per day. Other school boards in the city, including the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, Ottawa's largest, have also warned that teacher shortages may lead to class or school closures.

The Ottawa Catholic School Board and the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board each told CTV News on Wednesday they had not closed any schools due to teacher shortages.

The Ontario College of Teachers warned that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a provincewide teacher shortage.