Click here to download NB's 10-year Education Plan, "Everyone at their Best"
On September 1st, just a few days before students returned for the 2016 school year, the NB government released its 10-year Education Plan, generated to help identify the priorities and focus necessary to develop a culture of learning and overall well-being for NB students. In his introduction of the plan the Premier stated that “we understand how important education is to New Brunswickers. We understand that they want local school leaders to have the flexibility on how best to deliver education to our children…education is key to New Brunswick’s economic future and social fabric.” We couldn’t agree more! Sackville Schools 2020 was part of the public consultation process undertaken to generate the plan over the past year, along with teachers, students, parents, and other interested stakeholders. The resulting report, Everyone at Their Best, outlines recommendations which will help inform the NB education system over the next decade.
“We understand how important education is to New Brunswickers. We understand that they want local school leaders to have the flexibility on how best to deliver education to our children…education is key to New Brunswick’s economic future and social fabric.”
Members of our group met with the Minister of Education on September 6th and we were delighted to inform him that Sackville is prepared to hit the ground running on the 10-year plan, with his assistance. It is exciting to see the many parallels between the recommendations made in the plan and the principles put forth by Sackville Schools 2020. In supporting the innovative, inspiring education model gaining momentum here in Sackville, the NB government would be taking a major step in helping meet its 10-year education plan objectives. According to Minister Brian Kenny, “each of us has a role to play in furthering the objectives of this plan including learners, parents, educators, First Nations, community and business leaders, school district personnel, district education councils and others.”
After a year of research, public consultations and learning from other places, we are confident that we have alignment between our goals and the strategies and plans being developed by the Town of Sackville, the Anglophone-East School Division, the Department of Education, the Premier’s Education and New Economy Plan, and the federal government infrastructure and community development initiatives. The new education plan seeks to engage all members of the community in the education process, including support for educators and learners, lifelong learning from pre-K to post-secondary levels, as well as inclusive and engaging learning places for all. Sackville already has much of this in place. We are now set to move forward on a coordinated plan and enhanced places to learn. We thank all of those who have taken the time to assist us in identifying education as perhaps the most critical aspect of our community – now and into the future. Look for future events where we will be working to fully implement these new ideas across our community.