August 19, 1999
(Education)

Ministerial Panel announced on delivery of education in classroom

Premier Brian Tobin and Education Minister Judy Foote today announced the establishment of a ministerial panel on the delivery of education in the classroom. The panel will investigate and make recommendations on the allocation of teachers throughout the province and the breadth and depth of the province's curriculum.

"The establishment of this ministerial panel is a clear indication that the government of this province is listening to those concerned with education in our province and is committed to doing everything possible to ensure that all children in this province, regardless of where they live, have access to a balanced and high quality education," said the premier.

"When government initiated education reform in the mid-1990s our focus was on governance and bringing efficiencies to the administration of our school system," said Minister Foote. "This has been achieved with the establishment of 11 elected school boards from 27 denominational boards. It is now necessary, to shift the focus and debate in this province from issues of governance and school buildings to the delivery of education in the classroom."

"This ministerial panel will provide recommendations that will help to shape the classroom of the future in Newfoundland and Labrador," said Premier Tobin.

"Declining student enrolment and the geographic distribution of the population in the many remote communities in our province create significant challenges for education system," said Minister Foote.

"The panel has been mandated to review how teachers are allocated by the Department of Education and how they are deployed by the boards. The panel also will be looking at the course offerings in the K-12 system to ensure a balanced program for our students, no matter where they live in the province."

The panel is to be co-chaired by Dr. Ron Sparkes and Dr. Len Williams. Dr. Sparkes is the retiring president of the College of the North Atlantic, a well respected educator and administrator in the K-12 system for 20 years. Dr. Williams chaired the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Delivery of Programs and Services in Primary, Elementary, Secondary Education and served in many capacities in the education system including teacher, principal, professor and administrator.

The panel will submit a report to government in six months so that its recommendations can be reviewed prior to the 2000/01 school year. As part of the review process, the panel will organize regional focus groups, school visitations, an education forum, and will consult on a regular basis with key representatives from all stakeholders in education, including school boards, school councils, teachers, parents, students, the Faculty of Education at Memorial, the arts/music and science communities and the business community.

"When the people of this province voted in favour of educational reform, I promised that their opinions would be heard, they would matter and be taken into account. I also promised that this government would build on the opportunities emanating from education reform to achieve a higher quality of education for our children. This panel will set the direction to ensure that the youth of Newfoundland and Labrador have the opportunity to access quality programs and quality teaching which will prepare them for the future," concluded Premier Tobin.

Media contact:

Heidi Bonnell
Office of the Premier
(709) 729-3560

Nancy Healey
Department of Education
(709) 729-0048

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MINISTERIAL PANEL ON THE DELIVERY OF EDUCATION IN THE CLASSROOM
TERMS OF REFERENCE

1. Examine current educational delivery model and consider alternate approaches;

2. Conduct consultations to ascertain views on appropriate methods for allocating teacher resources and supporting the delivery of education in the classroom;

3. Examine current research, allocation procedures used in other jurisdictions, and methods of delivery;

4. Recommend changes to program offerings and current method of allocating teachers, program delivery methods and issues associated with teacher training and development.

 

THE FOLLOWING CONSULTATION/ACTIVITIES ARE ANTICIPATED:

1. An interactive web site

2. Research will be conducted

3. Written documentation will be assessed

4. A stakeholder group will be brought together and consulted

5. Regional focus groups will be held

6. Focused meetings will be held with school boards and other key educational and stakeholder groups

7. School visitations and student focus groups will be held

8. A provincial education forum will be held

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BIOGRAPHIES OF MINISTERIAL PANEL CO-CHAIRS

DR. LEN WILLIAMS

Leonard Williams, B.A.Ed., B.A., M.Ed., Ed.D was a teacher and school administrator, President of the Newfoundland Teachers' Association and the Canadian Teachers' Federation, a professor in the Faculty of Education at Memorial University including Director of the Division of Student Teaching, Chairman of the Royal Commission on Education, and Deputy Minister of Education.

Dr. Williams lives in St. John's with wife, Laura. They have one son, David.

 

DR. RON SPARKES

Dr. Ron Sparkes, Ed.D, is Past President of College of the North Atlantic, was Superintendent with the Labrador East Integrated School Board, served on the board of directors of the Canadian Education Association, chaired government's Advisory Committee on Literacy Policy, acted as federal facilitator for the establishment of a Low Level Flight Training Institute in Labrador and Quebec, and recently completed a term as Chair of the Literacy Development Council.

Dr. Sparkes lives in Stephenville with his wife, Beth. They have a son, Adam, and a daughter, Melanie.

1999 08 19                                 4:50 p.m.