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NLIS 18
March 22, 2001
(Education)

 

Government implementing ministerial panel recommendations

 

Government is investing $5 million to implement the recommendations of the report of the Ministerial Panel on Educational Delivery in the Classroom.

"When panel co-chairs, Drs. Len Williams and Ron Sparkes, submitted their final report in April 2000, I committed to moving forward with the key recommendations immediately and establishing a plan for the implementation of the remainder. We are doing just that," said Education Minister Judy Foote.

During the past year, the Department of Education has:

  • implemented a new framework for teacher allocations that saw in excess of 300 teaching units retained in the system last year;
  • initiated the development and implementation of new curricula including a new Grade 8 course in Newfoundland and Labrador History;
  • increased professional development for teachers by increasing the budget by $900,000 last year and maintaining that increase this year;
  • begun work on setting up a new Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation;
  • created and hired reading specialists for all 10 geographical school boards; and
  • developed a comprehensive testing program including public exams in core areas and criterion referenced testing in primary math and language arts (for implementation in 2001-2002).

For the coming year, we will continue to implement the ministerial panel recommendations by:

  • implementing the public exams and other testing;
  • continuing with the development and implementation of new curricula (Newfoundland history course to be piloted in September 2001);
  • establishing the position of a departmental program development specialist in music;
  • continuing to establish links that support early childhood education;
  • establishing an educational effectiveness program by appointing field experts to help schools and boards maximize the use of their facilities and share expertise; and
  • implementing a public school-level reporting and accountability system.

The ministerial panel was struck in August 1999, with two of the province�s most eminent educators, Drs. Len Williams and Ron Sparkes, as co-chairs. Their mandate was, through extensive consultation with education stakeholders, to undertake a critical examination of the delivery of education in the province�s schools and make recommendations on matters of curriculum, supports to the K-12 education system and accountability of the system.

"I am delighted with today�s announcement, proud of the work of those involved in seeing this project through, and I am gratified to be part of a government that recognizes the importance of investing in education," added Minister Foote.

Media contact: Andrea Maunder, Communications, (709) 729-0048.

2001 03 22                    3:15 p.m.


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