Education Minister James Allum yesterday unveiled Closing the Achievement Gap: Success for Every Student, an action plan the province hopes will improve academic achievement for all Manitoba students.
Allum said that while 86 per cent of Manitoba students meet or exceed expectations, some need additional support.
“We need to do better,” he said. “We have a targeted plan that includes new supports for teachers and more resources for parents to help ensure that all our students excel.”
Closing the Achievement Gap: Success for Every Student will include components designed to:
• Enhance teacher education by working with deans of education to strengthen teacher training, looking at entrance prerequisites, course composition, practicum supports, teacher certification requirements and new initiatives to encourage more math and science graduates to enter teaching.
• Provide more support for teachers and students in their early years. This includes investments in new classrooms and more teachers; expanding early childhood development programs to more students facing socio-economic barriers to success; and introducing new resources to help teachers better prepare students for tests.
• Focus on fundamental skills. This includes continuing to implement revisions meant to strengthen the provincial math and language arts curriculum to ensure an appropriate balance between basic skills, conceptual understanding and problem-solving. It also includes prioritizing essential learning outcomes within the curriculum to better help teachers focus on priority areas.
• Provide more supports for parents and students. This includes supporting parents and students by putting the curriculum online, introducing new homework supports, expanded after-school tutoring resources and instructional videos for targeted grades to help with tests and challenging concepts in core subjects.
• Ensure greater accountability. This includes working with school divisions to set goals and track progress in essential math and reading skills. Provincial staff will be dedicated to work with divisions to develop plans and analyze data to ensure accountability for academic achievement and progress.
