Partners in Education to Meet in Truro

Almost 500 teachers, parents and other education partners are heading to Truro this weekend to help plan the next wave of improvements to Nova Scotia's education system. Participants in the Partners' Forum will travel from across the province to Cobequid Educational Centre on Feb. 18 and 19.

"The education and health of Nova Scotia's children is this government's priority," said Premier John Hamm. "We've built a solid foundation for student success over the past three years with Learning for Life. It's time to build on that with a new plan for healthier minds and bodies, and we're bringing together the largest group of education partners that has ever been assembled to help put that plan together."

The Department of Education will present a range of new ideas centred around six themes: setting higher standards for learning; ensuring success for all students -- those who are struggling as well as those who excel; developing active and healthy learners; providing adequate time for teaching and learning; measuring and reporting on student performance; and strengthening partnerships for student success.

"The key is to build on positive changes that have already been made through Learning for Life," said Education minister Jamie Muir. "We all have a job to do to ensure students leave school with the best possible preparation for their futures. The work we do this weekend will, in time, make a big difference for the students in this province."

Participants at the Partners' Forum will include teachers, principals, school board members and students. Representatives from school advisory councils, the Nova Scotia School Boards Association, the Nova Scotia Teachers Union, government departments and many others will also be included. Doug Willms, professor and director of the Canadian Research Institute for Social Policy at the University of New Brunswick, will help kick off the forum with a keynote address Friday evening.

All Nova Scotians will have an opportunity to provide input through the Department of Education website -- www.ednet.ns.ca -- from Feb. 21 to March 4. In the spring, the department will release a new plan for education in Nova Scotia.