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School critique role of provincial commission

School curriculums, boards and programs in all Manitoba K-12 schools are all on the table for a programming review announced by the provincial government. On Jan.
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School curriculums, boards and programs in all Manitoba K-12 schools are all on the table for a programming review announced by the provincial government.

On Jan. 23, Manitoba’s education ministry announced the establishment of a nine-person commission that will review and critique Manitoba schools. The board includes former Manitoba education minister and current legislative assistant to the provincial education minister Ian Wishart. Dr. Janice MacKinnon and Clayton Manness will serve as co-chairs with the commission, as well as Terry Brown, Mark Frison, JD Lees, Laurel Repski, Denis Robert and Thompson-based Jill Quilty, the only representative from northern Manitoba.

“The commission will serve in the best educational interest of all students, regardless of their abilities, personal or family circumstances, or where they live,” said MacKinnon in a press statement.

Constance McLeese, superintendent of the Flin Flon School Division, echoed the information made available from the ministry.

“It is a comprehensive review, from what I’ve seen, for education all the way from Kindergarten to post-secondary about how we deliver education generally. It’ll look at funding, it’ll look at structures, at school divisions. It’ll look at teacher qualifications and training. It’ll look at what we need in curriculums,” she said, adding that results from the review are expected “roughly this time next year.”

Public consultations are expected to be held as part of the review process.

“As I understand it, there will be multiple opportunities for public consultation. I don’t know what format that will take, but the ministry will surely let us know,” McLeese said.

Officials from the provincial ministry of education confirmed to The Reminder that a review was coming last October, adding that changes to the existing system and structure of Manitoba education could be in store.

McLeese is monitoring the review closely.

“I don’t have an opinion at this point. The devil is in the details. We really need to see how all of this is going to play out,” she said.

“If there are ways that we can improve education in Manitoba, that’s certainly something that every teacher and administrator would want to do. It’s still very early in the process and you hope that all the voices are going to be heard.”

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