Education
March 5, 2010
Ministers Put Education at the
Forefront of the Economic Recovery
Canada's education ministers were in Toronto this
week for the 97th meeting of the Council of
Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), where they worked
to further advance commitments made in their 2008
declaration, Learn Canada 2020.
"We recognize the importance of education and
literacy to our economic recovery and to the future
prosperity of all Canadians," said the Honourable Diane
McGifford, Chair of CMEC and Minister of Advanced
Education and Literacy for Manitoba. "Knowledge and
skills are the road map to Canada's long-term social and
economic well-being."
Building on the legacy of the CMEC Summit on
Aboriginal Education, held in 2009, ministers of
education approved work to date and provided additional
direction on the post-summit pan-Canadian action plan
which includes:
Work on Aboriginal data and assessment; and,
Active engagement with the Government of
Canada on federal funding for Aboriginal
education.
It was agreed that this work would be undertaken in
line with unique needs of each jurisdiction and in full
respect for provincial/territorial and Aboriginal
autonomy. They also discussed further work to be done to
engage with National Aboriginal Organizations (NAOs).
CMEC will be coordinating its efforts with those of
ministers of Aboriginal affairs.
International education was another priority for
ministers at the Toronto meeting.
CMEC represents Canada's collective interests on
education-related international matters at bodies such
as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) and the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO). Ministers discussed CMEC's role
as the voice for education on the international stage
and approved an international education strategy to:
Reaffirm CMEC's leadership through enhanced
and focused participation in international
education bodies;
Explore additional opportunities for
provinces and territories to engage
internationally;
Promote provincial and territorial education
systems and institutions, and attract more
international students to Canada, notably
through the use of the new education brand, Imagine Education au/in Canada.
Ministers continued their work to ensure that our
postsecondary education systems are well placed to
respond to the current and future needs of all
Canadians. CMEC is continuing to work collaboratively
with provincial and territorial finance ministers on the
issue of postsecondary funding. "Substantial,
predictable, stable, ongoing federal support for
postsecondary education, delivered according to the
priorities of provinces and territories, is a
fundamental component of Canada's future economic
productivity and social wealth," said Minister
McGifford. "Funding postsecondary education is a down
payment on a better future for all Canadians."
While at their meeting, ministers also recommitted to
CMEC's flagship assessment programs. Grade-8 students
across Canada will undergo an assessment of their skills
in mathematics, reading, and science this spring through
the Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (PCAP). The end of
the year will see the release of the latest results of
the Programme for International Student Assessment
(PISA), a major international assessment conducted by
OECD.
Discussion on the other priorities outlined in
Learn Canada 2020, including literacy, education
data and research, official languages, and education for
sustainable development, also took place.
Finally, ministers agreed that their next meeting
would be in Winnipeg in fall 2010.
CMEC is an intergovernmental body composed of the
ministers responsible for elementary-secondary and
advanced education from the provinces and territories.
Through CMEC, ministers share information and undertake
projects in areas of mutual interest and concern.
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