'No ifs, no buts, no education cuts': a message from London students to Doug Ford
Hundreds of London highschoolers marched to city hall Thursday
High school students in London are saying "no" to proposed changes and cuts to their education system.
Hundreds of students left class Thursday afternoon to take part in a province-wide student walkout.
"We're not here to play around. We need things to change and we are not in support of this," said Catherine Robinson, a Grade 11 student at H.B. Beal Secondary School.
Robinson helped organize a walkout at her school that saw hundreds participate.
In recent months, the provincial government announced changes to classroom sizes, OSAP, sex education and autism supports.
Students across 600 Ontario schools joined in on the walkout Thursday.
'No education cuts';
In London, Beal students lined up the sidewalks in front of their school before marching to city hall where hundreds of students from two other high schools were gathered in protest.
"We think with everyone coming out, we really will make a statement," said Robinson.
Her school mate Montanna Tries is worried about her future. The 17-year-old comes from a low-income family and said cuts to student loans may put her schooling in jeopardy.
"I've always heard throughout life … make sure you have good stable career. In order to get a good, stable career you need a degree or a diploma. Well, how am I going to do that if I cannot afford a degree what so ever," she said. "Give us back our funding, give us back our education, because we are suffering."
Several chants rang out throughout the city including "No ifs, no buts, no education cuts," and "Doug Ford has got to go."
The Thames Valley District School board said it is providing supports to students who have questions or concerns about the provincial cuts.
Meanwhile, the Ford government is blaming teachers' unions for organizing the protests.
Some of the signs crafted by London students:
