By Lincoln DePradine

All three Black Conservative Members of Provincial Parliament – Patrice Barnes, Charmaine Williams and David Smith – have welcomed one of the latest announcements of another planned change to the education curriculum in Ontario.

The trio is happy that from September 2025, Ontario is introducing “mandatory Black History Learning’’ for students in Grades 7, 8 and 10.

“The remarkable accomplishments of the people and community of African descent will now, for the first time, be included as mandatory learning in the Ontario education curriculum. I think it’s long overdue,’’ said Smith, MPP for Scarborough Centre.

The pending change, making Black History teaching compulsory, is “a very positive and exciting thing for me’’, said Barnes, MPP for Ajax.

She and Smith, both former school trustees, joined education minister Stephen Lecce in discussing the planned changes at a news conference on Monday with community media representatives.

 “We are blessed by the contributions of Black individuals for well over 200 years,’’ Lecce said. “By mandating learning on the contributions Black individuals made to our country’s founding and success, the next generation of Canadians will better appreciate the sacrifice, patriotic commitment and long-lasting contributions Black Canadians have made to Canada.’’

Black History, said Williams, is part of the history of the Province of Ontario.

“The journey of Black Ontarians throughout our history is interwoven into the very fabric of our province and was critical to several milestones achieved by Ontario. This knowledge will inspire and empower students to learn about these contributions and continue working together to build a province that welcomes everyone,’’ said Williams, MPP for Brampton Centre and associate minister of women’s social and economic opportunity.

According to Barnes, people of African descent have “always been here’’ and “the “advocacy for teaching Black History has gone on for many, many years’’.

However, “the voices of Blacks are missing from the historical portion of Canada’’, added Barnes, a former Durham District School Board trustee. She now serves as parliamentary assistant to education minister Lecce.

Smith, a former Toronto District School Board trustee, said he’s “delighted that we have gotten to this point, where we are making strides’’ in introducing the teaching of Back History at schools.

“The people and community of African descent have greatly enhanced our nation’s and province’s economy and safety, particularly in the fields of education, research and development, medicine, business, sports, festivals (and) politics,’’ said Smith, parliamentary assistant to the minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development.

“The cultural, social, and economic fabric of our country has been molded by their tenacity, skills and contributions. Their victories serve as a reminder of the value of inclusivity and diversity in creating a truly wealthy and just society.’’

The provincial government, headed by Premier Doug Ford, has embarked on a series of changes to education in Ontario.

It has included the unveiling of a “Back-to-Basics Kindergarten Curriculum’’, with “mandatory learning’’ directives that will be rolled out next year.

The government is also introducing courses in entrepreneurship and business for Grades 9 and 10 students, giving children “real-life experience on starting and running a business’’

Among other changes is a Grades 9 and 19 technological education credit program, providing students with an opportunity to explore training pathways in the skilled trades and in STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The government calls the education decision-making a continuation of its work “on a modernized and up-to-date curriculum to ensure students graduate with real-life job skills and knowledge that they need to succeed – in the classroom and beyond. With the expedited growth in technological advancement and rise in entrepreneurship, the province is introducing updated curriculum, starting in the next school year, that prepares students for the jobs of tomorrow’’.

The changes, Lecce further explained, are in keeping with a commitment “to make sure we are giving our kids a cutting-edge education that is connected to the changing economy and the technological reality around us. I’m proud that we’re doing it, leading the country in this respect’’.

Lecce promised that, “as the economy and technology continue to change, we will continue to modernize curriculum, with an emphasis on STEM education, so students have the skills and confidence to graduate into good-paying jobs’’.