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October 22, 1999
(Education)


New entrepreneurship/enterprise education materials launched for Atlantic Canadian students

School students across Atlantic Canada stand to benefit from new entrepreneurship resources in classrooms this fall at all grade levels. The resources, launched yesterday by the Atlantic Provinces Education Foundation (APEF) and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), are designed to help teachers promote entrepreneurship among students.

The new high school material for grades 10 to 12 - Entrepreneurship and the Cultural Industries - links entrepreneurship with the fine arts curriculum. In the lower grades up to grade 9, the resources are activity-based and can be used to introduce entrepreneurial ideas in many subject areas, from mathematics to music. We Can Do Anything: Learning Through Enterprise is available for entry level to grade 3 anglophone students while Connections: Learning through Entrepreneurship Across the Curriculum is available at grades 7 to 9.

For French-language students, an activity-based teacher's resource, Cap sur l'entrepreneuriat, will help promote entrepreneurial attitudes and skills in grades 4 to 6. This builds on the Coup de main collection, already used by students from kindergarten/primary to grade 3.

"Entrepreneurship is a key driver of economic development in Atlantic Canada," said the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, George Baker. "Entrepreneurship education is essential if we are going to enable our young people to embrace the challenges and opportunities of private enterprise. With these new materials, teachers in the region will be able to help their students further develop entrepreneurship skills and qualities of personal initiative, leadership and self-confidence."

The new resources cost $540,000 of which over $366,000 was contributed by ACOA. They build on earlier English and French entrepreneurship resources jointly developed and funded by ACOA and the departments of education, and released in 1996.

Speaking on behalf of the four Atlantic education ministers, Newfoundland and Labrador Education Minister Judy Foote said that recognizing education as the foundation for the future success of the youth of our region, the provincial departments of education are incorporating more and more enterprise education outcomes into the curricula. "Including the concept of entrepreneurship in students' education plants the idea of starting their own business as a viable option. We have long recognized the significant contribution of local business to our economy and the vital role today's students will play as future leaders for this region and for Canada in the global economy."

Ms. Foote, representing APEF, was commenting on behalf of Education Ministers Elvy Robichaud (New Brunswick), Jane Purves (Nova Scotia) and J. Chester Gillan (Prince Edward Island).

Media contact:

Barbara Murray
Secretary to the Board
APEF
(902) 424-5352

Robert K. Smith
Director, Entrepreneurship Development
ACOA
(506) 851-7814

_________________________________

BACKGROUNDER

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) has worked with the provincial departments of education and the Atlantic Provinces Education Foundation (APEF) since the early 1990s to encourage entrepreneurship and acquisition of enterprising values in the education system in Atlantic Canada.

For example, in the summer of 1996, another resource "Pathways to Enterprise" was jointly developed and has met with success. Produced for English-language students mainly in grades 4 to 6, it is estimated that some 10,000 students from the region have already benefitted from it.

As well, a related joint initiative between ACOA and the four Atlantic provinces has recently extended regional collaboration to such things as implementation of an extensive in-service program to prepare teachers to use this new material.

Prior to the introduction of these new resources, there were about 110,000 students registered at the kindergarten/primary to grade 12 level across Atlantic Canada who were already being exposed to enterprise education and business concepts in the classroom. This, to a great extent, is the result of continuing collaboration between both levels of government.

Latest available information shows there are over 400,000 students in the public school system of Atlantic Canada and, with the addition of today's new material, over half of them will now have the opportunity to become more enterprising and learn venture creation.

The APEF is the vehicle for regional cooperation in education from the entry level to grade 12. Through the Foundation, a framework has been established to facilitate the sharing of information, the production and purchase of education materials, and the initiation of activities and projects on a regional level.

ACOA works with Atlantic Canadians to improve the economy of communities in the region through the successful development of businesses and job opportunities. ACOA encourages entrepreneurship development by working in partnership with Atlantic Canadians on a number of initiatives designed to renew the region's entrepreneurial spirit.

1999 10 22                                     12:20 p.m.


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