NDP’s Andrew welcomes Holocaust education becoming mandatory in Ontario elementary schools

QUEEN’S PARK – Jill Andrew, MPP for Toronto-St. Paul's released the following statement to welcome the announcement of Holocaust Education finally being made mandatory in Ontario elementary schools:

“I am pleased and relieved that the government of Ontario has agreed to make Holocaust and Genocide education mandatory — something I’ve been honoured to fight for on behalf of Jewish communities. Education is one of our greatest tools to ensure students, staff, and families have the knowledge they need to actively combat antisemitism in their schools and communities.

Over the past few years, we have seen a disturbing rise in antisemitism across the province, including in our classrooms. Jewish community members have repeatedly called for Holocaust and Genocide education to be made mandatory in our Ontario school curriculum. I have been honoured to advocate on their behalf to make this happen, with petitions, questions, and ongoing advocacy at Queen’s Park. I will remain an advocate for you as we move to implement this new change to the curriculum.

It is fitting that this announcement arrived on the anniversary of Kristallnacht — the Night of Broken Glass — during which Jewish people were murdered, and synagogues and businesses were destroyed and burned. To teach each generation the consequence of antisemitic hate is to take one step in the direction of stopping it from happening again.

With this announcement, I am proud to see the efforts of ongoing advocacy pay off. By mandating Holocaust education in schools, we will help children across this province understand the reality of Nazi Germany’s genocide against Jews, Roma, Sinti, and LGBTQ+ communities. This dark chapter of our history must never be allowed to repeat.”