Toronto school board becomes first in Canada to recognize caste discrimination

FILE PHOTO: Students arrive for the first time since the start of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic at Hunter's Glen Junior Public School, part of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada September 15, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Osorio

(Reuters) - Toronto's school board has become the first in Canada to recognize that caste discrimination exists in the city's schools and has asked a provincial human rights body to help in creating a framework to address the issue.

The Toronto District School Board on Wednesday voted in favor of a motion to that effect, which was introduced by board trustee Yalini Rajakulasingam. Sixteen trustees voted in favor of the motion and five voted against it.