As the school year officially comes to a close the minister and staff at the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development are wishing students, teachers and staff a safe summer.
“I want to thank the hundreds of teachers and staff in the education system for all of the work they have done over the year,” said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Karen Casey. “Together we have made significant changes in the classroom to help more of our students to reach their full potential including smaller class sizes, a new literacy strategy and introducing coding.”
In January, Nova Scotia’s Action Plan for Education entered its second year of implementation. During the 2015-16 school year the department has worked with teachers and the school boards to:
— expand the delivery of Junior Achievement to all school boards for students in grades 9 to 12 to learn financial literacy, career readiness and entrepreneurship
— introduce more supports in math and literacy to benefit both students and their teachers
— expand the early years centres, SchoolsPlus sites, Options and Opportunities and skilled trades centres
— introduce a provincial code of conduct policy and new homework standards
Initiatives for the 2016-17 school year include:
— a new streamlined curriculum for students in grades 4 to 6
— more class caps to reduce class sizes
— an updated math strategy
— a new career education framework for grades 4 to 12
and professional development for teachers including multi-grade classes and the gradual implementation of new teaching standards
A new school attendance policy is also in the works for the fall. The public, including teachers and students, currently have a chance to help inform the new policy through an online questionnaire available novascotia.ca/education . The deadline to complete the survey is July 8.
Parents, students, teachers and others wanting to stay up-to-date on initiatives of the action plan can sign up for ongoing news and updates through the website http://novascotia.ca/educationactionplan/ and follow @nseducation
“Congratulations to students across the province who have worked so hard this past year,” said Ms. Casey. “I wish you all a safe and happy summer.”
Nova Scotia’s Action Plan for Education can be found at www.ednet.ns.ca/ .
Source: Release