A vision to deliver the highest possible quality of education to our students will engage Islanders in all aspects of learning to ensure students, parents, teachers, principals and government are working together on achieving the same goal, excellence in learning.
Premier Wade MacLauchlan, Education, Early Learning and Culture Minister Hal Perry, Workforce and Advanced Learning Minister Richard Brown, and Family and Human Services Minister Doug Currie made the announcement this morning.
Learning is essential to the advancement of prosperity and quality of life for all Islanders. Students, and all those who support students, will have a stronger voice and unprecedented influence on Prince Edward Island’s education system. The learner will be the focus of all efforts.
“In order to achieve prosperity we must establish the strongest possible system to educate learners, spanning from the early years to the workforce,” said Premier Wade MacLauchlan. “We will work together with all learning partners to lead the system towards excellence, fulfill the potential of every learner, and to advance a culture of learning in our province.”
Education and community leaders will have direct input on learning in the province, from birth through public education, post-secondary and beyond, through the creation of the PEI Learning Partners Advisory Council. This group will take an active role in shaping learning in our province. Premier MacLauchlan will serve as an inaugural co-chair with a community representative. UPEI Professor Bill Whelan, co-chair of the former Education Governance Commission, will serve as the inaugural community co-chair.
“We will draw on the shared knowledge, experience, and expertise of everyone involved in learning on Prince Edward Island with the sole focus of advancing student outcomes,” said Education, Early Learning and Culture Minister Hal Perry. “Government recognizes achieving success will require all hands on deck. To achieve this, we will give a greater voice to those who work with students everyday – teachers, principals and school staff.”
New Family of Schools District Advisory Councils will give students and parents greater opportunity to provide meaningful advice on the K-12 education system directly to the Department of Education, Early Learning and Culture. They will be comprised of high school students, School Council/Home and School Association representatives, and the regional representative of the Home and School Federation.
All Island principals will be invited to participate in the new PEI Principals Council. This group will directly influence policy and program decisions in the K-12 school system. Principals provide educational leadership and have a significant influence on student achievement. Principals direct and supervise the development, delivery, assessment and improvement of the education of all students.
In order to successfully implement the direction for education developed by all partners, the Department of Education, Early Learning and Culture will take full responsibility and accountability for the education system and student achievement. In order to better align responsibility for public education, the functions of the English Language School Board will be integrated into the Department of Education, Early Learning and Culture.
This new approach will enable government to work with all partners on important issues such as classroom composition and rezoning.
“We are building an education system that is focused on meaningful engagement and effective collaboration, all with one focus – the learner - and a shared goal of excellence,” said Minister Perry.
Learn more at www.gov.pe.ca/learning-partnership