Providing Students with the Means to Succeed, Op-ed

NOTE: The following is an op-ed from Karen Casey, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development.

Every day in Nova Scotia our students and graduates are doing wonderful things that should be celebrated. In this province we have talented students, supportive parents and teachers who are committed to student success.

Despite comments made this week by Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Nova Scotia, our students are not illiterate. They are not products. They are learners with many strengths and who are performing well on the international stage.

With that said, the department recognizes that we need to do more to support our students. In January the department launched the Nova Scotia Action Plan for Education, which focuses on renewing, refocusing and rebuilding the education system over the next five years starting in September. The report was based on the feedback of more than 19,000 Nova Scotians, including many businesses and employers who identified concerns with students not being prepared for the workforce upon graduation.

To address this, the Nova Scotia Action Plan for Education includes many initiatives to help students prepare for the workforce and creates a stronger focus on math and literacy. The plan encourages partnerships with the business community and an increased focus on entrepreneurship.

Changes coming to prepare students for life after graduation include:

• adding more Discovering Opportunities 9 programs in schools across the province to familiarize Grade 9 students with careers and education programs linked to trades, technology, and apprenticeship
• expanding community-based learning programs for high school students, including Co-op Education, Entrepreneurship, O2, Skilled Trades.
• requiring all high school students to develop individual career plans for graduation. Students will receive information on opportunities for the exploration of STEAM careers (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics)
• Grade 11 math becoming a full-year course
• class caps on academic math 10 and academic math 11 courses
• requirement that all students have three high school math credits for graduation by 2020

The manufacturer's report suggests that the department does not partner with private business. Yet there are a number of programs already in effect that are only a success because of our partnerships with business. They include Building Futures for Youth, Co-op Education, Skilled Trades, Discovering Opportunities 9 and Options and Opportunities. We will build on what we are doing.

One of the action items that is coming in September is a new business-education council that will help students pursue career paths. This council will be a forum where business can identify the skills and attributes students need to be successful in the workforce, create a list of entrepreneurs to serve as business mentors to students, help teachers become more aware of economic opportunities in Nova Scotia and increase the number of work experience and co-op opportunities available for students.

Through the Department of Labour and Advanced Education there is significant work underway to connect young people in Nova Scotia to training opportunities, work experience, mentorship and jobs.

Those initiatives include things like the START program, which provides incentives to employers to hire work-ready Nova Scotians who are looking for experience or The Graduate to Opportunity program where we are working with industry to connect new graduates with employers and jobs.

The departments of Business, Labour and Advanced Education and Education and Early Childhood Development will continue to work closely with industry and colleagues across government to ensure our young people have the information, skills and training necessary to take advantage of good opportunities, here at home.

I would encourage the manufacturers to read Nova Scotia's Action Plan for Education at novascotia.ca/education for a greater understanding of how the department is already working to address their concerns and to be positive part of the solution and improve education for our students.