Education and Early Childhood Development
March 24, 2015

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

Distance Learning Continues to Offer Opportunities to Rural Students

Mr. Speaker, over the past decade the Provincial Government has worked successfully to ensure students in every corner of Newfoundland and Labrador have the opportunity to have their educational needs met through distance education. Recently, I took part in a course demonstration at the Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation (CDLI) in Gander and had the opportunity to see firsthand the innovative techniques being used to educate our students throughout the province.

As a former educator, with a strong background in CDLI, I know how distance education can provide high quality programming to students in rural, remote and isolated regions, where smaller enrolment and the availability of specialist teachers might otherwise have limited their opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, our government wants every student in our province to reach their full potential and through the Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation we are ensuring that students, regardless of location, have access to the courses they need for a rich and diverse educational experience.

Since 2004, the Provincial Government has invested more than $71 million in distance learning which has allowed teachers in areas such as skilled trades, core French, science, mathematics, and music to reach over 20,000 students throughout the province.

With 46 staff, including 29 distance teachers, CDLI’s mandate includes the development and delivery of senior high school distance education programming, online teacher professional development, and providing oversight of various K-12 technology integration initiatives.

Mr. Speaker in the past decade, CDLI has grown from offering 25 courses in 93 high schools to offering over 40 courses in more than 110 high schools. The program has also expanded to offer senior high course review material to assist all students with final or supplementary public exams and free online tutoring to senior high and intermediate students province-wide.

Mr. Speaker, this government is committed to meeting the needs of students and staff in rural and remote communities throughout the province by investing in distance learning to ensure that all students have access to education no matter where they live.

2015 03 24                              1:55 p.m.