A systematic review of the Western School Board and the Eastern School District’s governance model will be done over the next number of months says Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Doug Currie.
“The last four years have been a time of significant reform in our education system,” said Minister Currie. “The introduction of kindergarten into the public school system, the creation of the Preschool Excellence Initiative, and the restructuring of the department represent more advancements in our system in four years than in the last 20 years combined. At the same time, the process and pace of reform has demonstrated the inherent challenges facing our current educational governance model.”
Government is taking a grassroots approach to this review. It will be an independent process, in which an external commission will be engaged to consult with stakeholders, review best practices, and develop a model best suited to the needs of our Island’s educational system.
This review will address a number of questions, including:
• What are the appropriate roles of a school board versus the role of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development?
• How can the current legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks under which the Boards operate be improved from an accountability perspective?
• How can we enhance the role of key stakeholders such as home and school associations, parents, educators, and others in the governance of our education system and keep them engaged?
A number of key stakeholders including the Auditor General have raised concerns about role clarity and accountability. Last spring, the PEI Home and School Federation passed a resolution asking the province to study the viability of a single English board model. And in June, the participants at the Minister’s Summit on Learning clearly stated that the current system must adapt and evolve to offer students the skills they need to become lifelong learners in a changing world.
“The future of the province is fundamentally tied to the quality of learning in the early years, in our schools, in higher education and throughout life,” said Minister Currie. “The world is changing rapidly and our education system must keep pace. It is also my hope that this review will build on the growing recognition and commitment of so many Island parents and partners who are ready to work together to help children succeed - by putting learning first.”
Over the next month, the details of this very important review will be announced; following that, additional details of the process will be shared. The results of the review will be provided to Government by the end of this year.