101st Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC)

NEWS RELEASE – MINISTERS CALL FOR MORE INNOVATION AND EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES AS EDUCATION SYSTEMS LOOK TO THE FUTURE

First CMEC Meeting in Nunavut Tackles Legacy of Residential  Schools

Iqaluit, July 5, 2013 – The best way to address Canada’s  growing need for an educated and skilled labour force and ensure a sustained  economic recovery is to expand education opportunities and improve learning  outcomes in early childhood learning and development, elementary and secondary education,  postsecondary education, adult learning and skills development. This, according  to provincial and territorial ministers of education who have just concluded  the 101st meeting of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada  (CMEC), in Iqaluit, Nunavut.

Ministers confirmed that Canada is in a strong position to meet the  challenges stemming from long-term trends such as the ageing population, the  intensification of the knowledge economy, and the acceleration of technological  change, but also underscored that education systems must be sustainable, more  innovative, and that more needs to be done to reach those Canadians who have so  far benefited least from the learning opportunities provided by provincial and  territorial systems of education and training.

“Tough economic times, a  more demanding workplace, and the need for Canada to keep pace in a more  competitive global environment are prompting greater public interest in how  well our education systems are preparing Canadians for the future,” said the  Honourable Marilyn More, Minister Responsible for the Advisory Council on the  Status of Women for Nova Scotia, who was speaking on behalf of the Honourable  Ramona Jennex, Chair of CMEC and Minister of Education and Early Childhood  Development for Nova Scotia. “It is not enough to know we have traditionally  done well by international standards.” said Minister More. “We need to ensure  that our provincial and territorial education systems are leading the way to  where we want to be five, 10, even 20 years from now.”

Taking action to promote reconciliation  and understanding

At the meeting, ministers resolved to address the painful legacy of  residential schools by ensuring that curriculum in all provincial and  territorial school systems will allow students to gain an understanding of how  residential schools affected Aboriginal children, families, and communities  and, ultimately, the country as a whole. Ministers focused on how education can  promote reconciliation and mutual understanding, and in that spirit took note  of the new school curriculum on the history of residential schools in Canada  announced jointly by Northwest Territories and Nunavut in 2012, as well as  similar developments in other jurisdictions. “It is no longer acceptable for  Canadians to complete their formal education unaware of this dark chapter in  our country’s history,” said the Honourable Eva Aariak, Premier and Minister of  Education for Nunavut. “Learning about the history of residential schools can  contribute to the collective healing process and strengthen the fabric of  communities across the country.”

Ministers agreed that the council will continue to focus its attention  on the need to improve Aboriginal student success and asked the Honourable  Jackson Lafferty, Minister of  Education, Culture and Employment, Northwest Territories, to help lead CMEC’s  work in this area. Ministers also emphasized the importance of greater  collaboration in this area among all partners, including the federal  government, and reiterated the need for the federal government to fulfill its  own responsibilities in funding and supporting Aboriginal education.  

In discussing Aboriginal education, ministers also noted how early  learning opportunities for all children are integral to improving education  outcomes.  “We have a diverse student population,”  said Saskatchewan Education Minister Russ Marchuk.  “Ensuring that our approach to the early  years is inclusive by utilizing a holistic approach rooted in First Nation,  Metis, and Inuit perspectives is key to achieving student success.”

Improving education outcomes

Ministers of education shared a common vision for high-quality,  sustainable, integrated learning systems from the early years to adult education  and skills, and discussed how best to achieve it in terms of both student  outcomes and student well-being.

They agreed that numeracy was a key priority and that provinces and  territories would work together to identify and share best practices on  innovative teaching and learning strategies to raise student achievement in  this area. “One advantage of our approach to education is that each  jurisdiction can learn from the experiences of the others,” said Mr. Sylvain  Pagé, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education, Leisure and Sport  of Quebec. “CMEC’s meetings are important for ensuring that every part of the  country benefits from the advances that each province and territory is making  in education.”

Ministers then took note of particular challenges faced by children and  youth in the care of social services and agreed to work to enhance learning  opportunities and education outcomes for these children, with a particular  focus on Aboriginal children, who represent a significant proportion of this  group.

Ministers also considered the ways in which new communication  technologies and the principles underlying open educational resources can be  used to enhance teaching and learning and make education more accessible to an  even greater number of learners.

Finally, ministers recommitted to work through CMEC to ensure that both  governments and citizens have the information they need to evaluate the  performance of their education and skills-training systems and make informed  choices.

Early childhood learning and  development

Ministers discussed work on a common pan-Canadian early-learning-and-development  framework. The framework would provide guidance for the development of policies  and programs that could have far-reaching benefits for children, parents, and  families. This development is part of an ongoing discussion on the  transformation of education taking place across provinces and territories aimed  at providing children with the best possible start in life.

Postsecondary education

While in Iqaluit, ministers reviewed evidence  pointing to the growing importance of a postsecondary degree, diploma, or  certificate in the context of an ever more demanding labour market. “Workers with a postsecondary  education were affected least by the economic downturn, and most of the new  jobs created since the recession are ones that require a postsecondary education,”  said the Honourable Brad Duguid, Ontario’s Minister of Training, Colleges and  Universities. “Our message to Canadians is clear: the value of a postsecondary  education in Canada is growing and will continue to grow in the years to come.”

Ministers acknowledged the necessity of transformational change  in postsecondary systems to respond to fast changing economic and labour market  needs, and to address the fiscal challenges faced by all governments.  Specific areas for consideration included  sustainability, differentiation, improved credit transfer within and among provinces  and territories, the role of technology for engaged learning, and collaboration  with industry on curriculum, program development and applied research.

Ministers discussed the need to move forward in partnership with postsecondary  institutions with the identification of postsecondary indicators at a  pan-Canadian level to measure student outcomes in a comparative way and to  encourage collaboration between postsecondary institutions.

International education

Ministers renewed their commitment to play a leadership role in  international education through CMEC. They also approved plans for the Third High-Level  Consultation on Education Collaboration between the Provinces and Territories  of Canada and the People’s Republic of China, which will be held in Alberta in  the coming months. "Opportunities to be  immersed in a different culture add immensely to a student's educational  journey," said the Honourable Jeff Johnson, Minister of Education for  Alberta. "Whether it's Canadians going abroad, or international students  coming to Canada, these exchanges strengthen our personal ties and  relationships with partners around the world and bolster our communities and  economy."

During their discussions on international education, ministers again  asked the federal government to work within a framework based on a true  partnership with CMEC to deepen collaboration among the education, trade, and  immigration sectors, all of which have an important role to play in promoting  Canada’s education systems abroad to ensure that Canada’s attractiveness as a  destination for students and immigrants continues to grow.

First CMEC meeting in Nunavut

Ministers concluded by thanking Nunavut’s Premier and Minister of  Education, the Honourable Eva Aariak, for hosting CMEC’s first-ever meeting in  Canada’s newest territory. “I am pleased that my colleagues had an opportunity  to visit Nunavut and to experience its people and culture,” said Premier  Aariak. “Many of the education issues we face in the North, and in Inuit  communities in particular, are unique, and yet I believe that all the members  of the council benefit enormously from the time we spend together exchanging  ideas and experiences. As ministers of education, it is only appropriate that  we set an example for learners everywhere by learning from one another.”

About CMEC

Founded in 1967, CMEC is the collective voice  of Canada’s ministers of education. It provides leadership in education at the  pan-Canadian and international levels and contributes to the exercise of the  exclusive jurisdiction of provinces and territories over education. For more  information, visit us at www.cmec.ca.

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Information
Colin Bailey Director,  Communications
Cell: 416-929-6970
Tel.: 416-962-8100, ext. 259
E-mail: c.bailey@cmec.ca