Education and Early Childhood Education
March 17, 2016

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development:

Call for Nominations for the Inclusive Education Award

Mr. Speaker, the Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Community Living, a non-profit organization that works with and on behalf of persons with intellectual disabilities and their families, has opened nominations for their annual Inclusive Education Award.

I was pleased to meet with this group in February when we proclaimed Inclusive Education Month.

Each year the Inclusive Education Award is presented to a school for outstanding efforts to develop and design classrooms, programs and activities so that all students can participate in all aspects of school life.

Mr. Speaker, students have a right to attend school with their peers while receiving appropriate and quality programming in safe, caring and inclusive environments. Inclusive schools embrace the diversity of our communities and employ collaborative approaches to teaching and learning.

I encourage each of our schools to acknowledge and celebrate inclusive environments by applying for this Inclusive Education Award. The deadline for submissions is March 25. Information about the award and the new guidelines are available online on the Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Community Living website .

Mr. Speaker, this government is committed to fostering safe, caring and inclusive environments enabling all students to reach their full potential.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

2016 03 17                              2:05 p.m.