Ontario high school students must take 2 mandatory online courses before graduation

High school students in Ontario will now be required to only complete two online courses in order to graduate.

Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, made the announcement on Thursday afternoon.

Previously, the Ford government required students to take four online courses, but have now backtracked on that statement.

Leccesaidthe province is trying to demonstrate that it's being reasonable.

The Ford government saidthe initiative allows the province to be a "global leader of modern and digital education," they statedin a press release.

The mandatory online classes will start beingcountedtoward graduation requirements in September 2020.

Students graduating in 2023-2024 will be the first cohort required to complete the mandatory two courses.

Offered courses include grade 11 biology, grade 12 data management, and grade 10 career studies. Lecce saidSTEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Math]courses will also be offered.

Lecce saidthe plan would offer students more course options and flexibility.

The government said itwill consultwith Ontarians before rolling out the program to ensure "the approach to online learning will meet the needs of students and educators."

Earlier this year, the TDSB cut more than 300 classes as a result of provincial changes to class size averages.

Later on, the government said the class sizes would remain 'effectively the same.'