News Release

Education and Early Childhood Development

Provincial government seeks input on 10-year education plan

30 September 2015

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government released a discussion paper and announced a series of open houses today to obtain public input on the development of a 10-year education plan.

“We are asking New Brunswickers to join the conversation so that we can work together to find solutions that will form a plan for the future of education,” said Karen Power, co-chair responsible for the development of a 10-year provincial education plan. “Two distinct education systems means we need a plan that respects the diverse needs of both cultures while contributing to a stronger New Brunswick for our children and our communities.”

Strong foundational skills in reading, math and science best prepare students for success later in life and can be learned at an early age. These skills are important for developing a literate society which has the skills to adapt to an evolving labour market.

In 2014, the Conference Board of Canada gave New Brunswick a D grade in its first How Canada Performs: Education and Skills report card. The province placed 22nd out of the 26 jurisdictions that were compared, which included the other Canadian provinces and other top-performing countries. While performing well in high school attainment and equality in outcomes (A grade), New Brunswick lags significantly in the areas of reading, math, and science (D grade).

“New Brunswick is known to have among the most inclusive education systems in the world, but there is room for improvement to ensure all of our students are able to achieve higher levels of success and have full and rich learning experiences,” said Gino LeBlanc, co-chair responsible for the development of a 10-year provincial education plan. “We need to develop a plan that truly invests in students by equipping them with the skills they need for lifelong learning and success in the workforce.”

There are two other initiatives underway that will complement and feed into the education strategy. The Childcare Review Task Force is intended to create the right conditions for high-quality child care that is accessible and affordable. The Literacy Strategy will address improving literacy skills among residents of all ages to ensure they are able to participate fully in school, at work, at home and in their communities.

A series of open houses will take place in communities across the province to provide the public with an opportunity to learn more about the education system. Residents are invited to drop in to the informal events to ask questions of the experts and to provide input on what the 10-year education plan could include. Engagement sessions will also be held with First Nations communities to get their input.

The public is also invited to submit their ideas by mail, online or by completing the online survey. Details on all of these options are available online. The deadline for all submissions is Nov. 15.

Open houses will take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the following locations:

Anglophone Sector | Francophone Sector