NLIS 3
December 18, 2002
(Education)
 

The following statement was issued today by Judy Foote, Minister of Education. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I am pleased to inform the House of Assembly of an exciting new partnership between the Department of Education and the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers� Association.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the department�s Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation and the NLTA�s Virtual Teachers� Centre. This MOU establishes an effective collaborative process for offering on-line professional development to teachers throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. The MOU will allow the Department of Education and the NLTA to integrate the work they would otherwise do separately and ensure that on-line professional development is developed and delivered in a co-ordinated manner.

Once the Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation and the Virtual Teachers� Centre were established, it was evident there could be some overlap in the services that each of these agencies provided. We decided together that they would focus on different - but complementary - aspects of professional development. The mandate of the Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation is to focus on professional development related to the Department of Education�s curriculum implementation and assessment. The Virtual Teachers� Centre addresses the broader spectrum of teachers� professional needs. Through the partnership we are announcing today, we will enhance and co-ordinate our efforts to ensure the professional development needs of our teachers are met.

In order to further facilitate cooperation between the Department of Education and the NLTA, we have agreed to cost-share the services of a coordinator who is responsible for the development and delivery of on-line programs and services. I am pleased to announce that Alex Hickey, coordinator of the Virtual Teachers� Centre, will now work with the Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation to co-ordinate all on-line K-12 professional development initiatives. Mr. Hickey is with us today and is joined by Mr. Winston Carter, president of the NLTA, and Mr. Ed Hancock, the NLTA�s executive director. Also here are Dr. Harold Press, deputy minister of the Department of Education, and Mr. Gerald Galway, assistant deputy minister, who oversees the operation of CDLI.

I add that Mr. Hickey�s appointment is, according to the Canadian Teachers� Federation, the first time anywhere in this country that a government has partnered with a teachers� association to work together on teacher professional development to such an extent. I am pleased we are involved in developing this ground-breaking partnerships which shows once again that Newfoundland and Labrador is leading the way in the development of creative initiatives to improve learning.

This arrangement will not impact the traditional methods of professional development delivery. The Department of Education will continue to conduct intensive in-servicing as required to ensure our teachers are introduced to new curriculum and other advancements in education.

The department has embarked on several initiatives to improve professional development for teachers including:

  • An annual investment of $4.4 million on professional development;
  • The addition of three school days for teacher in-service; and,
  • The establishment of a Professional Development Alliance with representatives from school boards, the NLTA, Memorial University and the department.

As many of you have heard me say, we have one of the most highly-qualified teaching forces in the country. This partnership ensures we will continue to offer our students access to good teachers who are role models, motivators and mentors.

News Release

2002 12 18                                        2:20 p.m.


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