TORONTO, ON – In solidarity with the United Nations (UN), the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario continues to demand that the human rights of people of African descent be protected. On this first day of Black History Month 2022, ETFO reaffirms its endorsement of the UN International Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024 in 2018, and calls for a plan to address the lack of representation of Black educators in Ontario. 

ETFO’s endorsement of the decade provides a framework for ETFO to address anti-Black racism that exists in organizational and institutional structures, policies, procedures, and programs, as well as in the attitudes and behaviours of individuals in society. The decade’s theme, “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development,” is the foundation for ETFO’s multi-year strategy to address anti-Black racism.

Guided by the Federation’s strategy, ETFO works to confront and eliminate anti-Black racism, while promoting and celebrating Black excellence. To this end, ETFO has developed and implemented initiatives to dismantle barriers and ensure equitable outcomes for those who self-identify as Black. This includes women, individuals with disabilities, and those who identify as 2SLGBTQ+. An update on ETFO’s strategy can be found here. 

To address the lack of representation of Black educators in Ontario, ETFO is: 

• creating a public symposium on the recruitment of Black teachers, working in partnership with Black organizations to advance Black lives within the broader community; 
• creating two Black educator bursaries, which are open to Black individuals entering into their first year of a faculty of education in Ontario;
• engaging faculties of education to recruit Black students; and
• addressing both the recruitment and retention of Black educators by connecting Black teacher candidates with Black educators in the system.

ETFO calls on the provincial government to enact policy and legislative changes that address anti-Black racism and white supremacist structures that are barriers to those who self-identify as Black. Only real structural change and an authentic commitment to “recognition, justice and development” will provide the equity that is every person’s moral and legal right.

Information regarding ETFO’s multi-year strategy to address anti-Black racism, Black History Month, and other resources can be found at etfo.ca/antiblackracism.