January 11, 1996
(Education and Training)

The following is being distributed at the request of the Atlantic Provinces Education Foundation:

Introduction of the French Language Elementary Science Curriculum

The ministers of education of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island are pleased to announce the introduction of an elementary science curriculum and the curriculum resource Innovations-Sciences in French language schools of the Atlantic provinces. Immersion programs in the four Atlantic provinces will also implement the curriculum and the resource.

James Lockyer, New Brunswick education minister, indicated that: "This curriculum will provide teachers with the tools they need to teach elementary science, and will enable students to acquire skills and knowledge in science which they will need throughout their life. Students will better understand and appreciate the role of science in their everyday life."

According to PEI education minister Gordon MacInnis: "The elementary science curriculum will play a fundamental role in achieving the essential graduation learnings for students in Atlantic Canada, as adopted by our education departments this year."

Chris Decker, Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Education and Training, is very pleased with this project. "The introduction of this elementary science curriculum confirms our commitment to work towards the adoption of common core curriculum on a regional level and reveals the spirit of cooperation that exists among the four departments of education."

The education ministers are very satisfied with this curriculum and the work accomplished by their departments. John MacEachern of Nova Scotia stressed that "the new elementary science program represents a tremendous amount of work and a solid effort by the foundation's science working group, composed of science consultants and teachers from the four provinces. We would like to congratulate them on this accomplishment."

The curriculum will be supported by the Innovations-Sciences collection, adapted by Les Editions de la Cheneliere. The collection emphasizes learning focused on a global, interdisciplinary approach that still maintains its scientific orientation.

The adaptation of the educational material was jointly funded by the APEF, the Ontario Ministry of Education and Training, and the Saskatchewan Department of Education, Training and Employment.

The Atlantic Provinces Education Foundation (APEF) is composed of the New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island education ministers. The APEF is funded by the Council of Maritime Premiers and the four education departments of the Atlantic Provinces. The purpose of the foundation is to promote regional cooperation in education.

Contact:

• Rheal Poirier, Regional Coordinator
  Atlantic Provinces Education Foundation
  P.O. Box 2044
  Halifax, Nova Scotia
  B3J 2Z1
  Telephone: (902) 424-5352
  Fax: (902) 424-8976
  E-Mail: premiers@fox.nstn.ns.ca