Education and Early Childhood Development
December 21, 2017

Positive Progress Being Made on Premier’s Task Force on Educational Outcomes

Great strides have been made to action a number of the recommendations included in the report of The Premier’s Task Force on Improving Educational Outcomes. The task force was established in 2016 to examine the Kindergarten to Grade 12 education system and make recommendations to improve student outcomes.

The 82 recommendations, which will guide the development of an Education Action Plan and support continued dialogue with key stakeholders, focus on areas in the education system including: mental health and wellness; inclusive education; mathematics; reading; Indigenous education; multicultural education; co-operative education; early years; and teacher education and professional development.

Some of the actions to date include:

  • The appointment of an associate deputy minister to lead the implementation of the recommendations of the task force;
  • Extensive follow-up consultation with key stakeholders, including:
    • Government departments;
    • School districts;
    • The Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association;
    • Memorial University’s Faculty of Education;
    • Choices for Youth;
    • The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Social Workers;
    • The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Occupational Therapists;
    • The Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women;
    • The Kids Help Phone;
    • The Provincial Advisory Council for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities;
    • The Association of Early Childhood Educators;
    • The Coalition of Persons with Disabilities;
    • The Learning Disabilities Association;
    • The Association for New Canadians;
    • Indigenous Affairs; and
    • Dietitians of Canada.
  • As a result of consultations and a comprehensive analysis of each of the 82 recommendations, 11 recommendations have been implemented.

Work on the implementation of the remaining recommendations is in progress. This work includes:

  • Establishment of a steering committee to oversee the implementation of the province’s Education Action Plan. The eight-member committee comprises deputy ministers from a number of Provincial Government departments, CEOs/directors of the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District and the Conseil scolaire francophone provincial de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador, the Dean of Memorial University’s Faculty of Education; and, the Executive Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association;
  • Establishment of a committee to develop a new Special Education Policy and work on a seamless model of supports for students with exceptionalities;
  • Establishment of a reading committee to develop roles and responsibilities for school-based and district-based reading specialists, as well as guidelines and resources for reading interventions;
  • Establishment of a committee to develop a new provincial assessment framework;
  • Establishment of a committee to ensure accurate recording of school attendance and develop a dropout prevention program; and
  • Establishment of a secretariat to oversee the implementation of recommendations that involve more than one government department and to ensure a health in all policies approach to a new Education Action Plan.

The work of the Task Force will be used to inform Budget 2018 decisions and the creation of the Education Action Plan, which will outline government’s plan for the future of Newfoundland and Labrador’s education system.

Quote
“Over the last few months, department officials have fully engaged in discussions and have thoroughly analyzed the report recommendations, as they provide government with direction for a new Education Action Plan. I am very pleased with the progress we have made. The collaboration across government departments, numerous outside organizations and key stakeholders has been remarkable. I look forward to the continued progress and seeing many of these initiatives roll-out in the 2018-19 school year.”
Honourable Dale Kirby
Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development

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Learn more
The report of The Premier’s Task Force on Improving Educational Outcomes can be found at: www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu/task_force/report.pdf.

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Media contact
Debbie Marnell
Education and Early Childhood Development
709-729-1906, 699-9048
debbiemarnell@gov.nl.ca 

2017 12 21                             10:35 a.m.