Cultural Responsiveness Highlighted During Education Week 2022
Education Week 2022 is an important opportunity for the education community to recognize teachers, administrators, early childhood educators, school support staff and education partners for outstanding work.
Sixty-nine award recipients from across Nova Scotia were honoured at a ceremony in Dartmouth today, April 25.
The theme of this year’s celebration is Cultural Responsiveness – Meeting Students Where They Are. Cultural responsiveness stresses positive relationship building between educators, school staff, students, parents, guardians, and the community in order to learn more about home cultures. This ensures safe, caring schools where every student sees themselves reflected throughout their learning journey.
“All Nova Scotian students should feel that they belong at school,” said Becky Druhan, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. “They should feel accepted, safe, and valued. Cultural responsiveness is an important part of inclusive education and I’m very pleased that Education Week is spotlighting the great work in our education community to help advance cultural competence.”
Education Week, recognized this year from April 24 to 30, is a co-operative effort among public education stakeholders in Nova Scotia, including:
- the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
- Nova Scotia Teachers Union
- Nova Scotia Federation of Home and School Associations
- Fédération des parents acadiens de la Nouvelle-Écosse
- Public School Administrators Association of Nova Scotia
- Council on African Canadian Education
- Council of Mi’kmaq Education
- Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority.
Quotes:
“Cultural responsiveness contributes to safe learning environments where students can express themselves and feel supported by others. I can think of no greater gift to give our children or prepare them to demonstrate inclusion and empathy in their own interactions.”
– Arthur J. LeBlanc, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia