Students can look forward to new curriculum in September

Education Minister Judy Foote announced today that plans for the implementation of new curriculum are well under way. The provision of new curriculum, with accompanying learning resources is a key strategy for government and school districts in ensuring that students in this province receive a quality education.

"The decision to increase the 2001-02 budget for the purchase of new learning resources by $1.5 million increases students' access to modern curricula and new learning resources to support their classroom learning," said the minister. "The implementation of new curriculum is consistent with recommendations of the Ministerial Panel on Educational Delivery in the Classroom and also is another element of our plan to improve literacy levels in the province." 

In recent years, the department has worked closely with school districts to implement new curriculum in language arts in Kindergarten to Grade 9.

This coming school year, four new English courses will be implemented at the senior high level and over $1.1 million will be invested on learning resources for Level I English. "I am very pleased that among the new resources will be a new textbook on Newfoundland and Labrador Literature � a clear reflection of our commitment to instilling an understanding of the culture of our province," said the minister.

A new mathematics curriculum has been developed � based on National Council of Teachers on Mathematics standards. The department is working aggressively to implement this curriculum. This coming school year, new math curriculum will be implemented in Grades 2 and 7 for both anglophone and French immersion students along with four new courses in practical, academic and advanced math at senior high. Within three years, the plan is to have new math curriculum in every grade and classroom in the province.

"We recognize every subject makes an important contribution to our children's education � so we are developing new curriculum in a variety of subject areas. This year the focus is on senior high," said the minister. "In September, we will implement a new Science 1206 course, based on the Pan-Canadian Science framework, with new learning resources developed specifically for this course. The implementation of this new science course will make our senior high science curriculum consistent with science programs across the country."

The department will be implementing a new Level I course in technology education, Integrated Systems 1205 and new courses in world geography, one of which is specifically designed for academically challenged students.

While the focus this year is on senior high, new courses will also be implemented at other levels. In addition to the Grades 2 and 7 math mentioned earlier, a new physical education curriculum will be implemented in Grades 1 to 6, a new French Immersion Social Studies curriculum in Grade 7 and a new Technology Education module in Grade 7.

In cooperation with the Conseil Scolaire Francophone (the francophone school board), the department is implementing new French mathematics curriculum in Grades 1 to 5, new French Language Arts resources in Grades 7 to 9 and new social studies curriculum and resources in Grade 7. In senior high, new courses in Science and Chemistry and two in Mathematics will also be introduced.

New courses are accompanied by new learning resources, including textbooks.

Media contact: Nora Daly, (709) 729-1906.

2001 08 08                                           12:30 p.m.