News Release Archive
EDUCATION/CULTURE--DECISIONS ANNOUNCED
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Acadian and Francophone governance policy advisor Allister
Surette, on behalf of Education and Culture Minister John
MacEachern, today announced government's decisions on Le
Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial's administrative
structure and the location of the head office. Mr. Surette
was joined at the press conference in Clare by Acadian
Affairs Minister Wayne Gaudet.
The report of the governance working group, chaired by Leon
Richard, was also released. It will provide the framework to
guide programming and educational decisions for le conseil
and government.
The report recommends that three geographical regions be
established: Northeast, including Sydney, Pomquet, Cheticamp
and Richmond; Central, including Halifax, Dartmouth and
Greenwood; and Southwest, to include Clare-Argyle.
Administrative head offices will be located in the southwest
region in Clare. This puts the head offices where most of
the schools and students are located, and close to
Universite Ste.-Anne, College de l'Acadie head offices, and
the Centre Provincial de Resources Pedagogiques (provincial
teaching resource centre). Board meetings could be held in
different regions so travel will be reasonable for people
across the province.
As well, for the first time, there will be a sub-system
office in the northeast region. Transportation and
Communications Minister Richie Mann announced today that
this office will be located at the current Richmond board
offices in D'Escousse. "Community well-being is at the heart
of this announcement," said Mr. Mann. "Today, we are
honouring our commitment to rural Nova Scotia and to our
Acadian communities."
There will also be a liaison office at le Carrefour, in
Dartmouth, to ensure staff, parents and students have access
to the educational services and support needed for the
central region.
Once le conseil is appointed, it can make adjustments within
the announced administrative framework, so the exact number
of administrative staff is not known at this time. However,
new positions such as the co-ordinator of technology and
innovation, will present opportunities for all students
across the province.
In terms of programming, Mr. Surette said changes will occur
gradually. "Like we've done all along, changes will come
about by talking and listening -- making the right changes,
in the right amount of time, for our students and the
preservation of our linguistic and cultural heritage.
Schools which offer bilingual or other programming can
continue to do so for the time being. Individual schools,
with their school councils, will develop a plan, to be
presented to le conseil, that addresses the program of
studies for their school."
As well, schools under le Conseil Scolaire Acadien
Provincial will be linked to the world. "All of our schools,
including our elementary schools, will have access to the
Internet," Mr. Surette said. "That means our students not
only can keep in touch within Nova Scotia, but they can
reach out to students who share their language, culture and
heritage around the world."
Le conseil's high schools will be linked with
video-conferencing technology for distance education. This
means a course in calculus, for example, can be offered as
easily and inexpensively to a couple of students in
Cheticamp as it can be offered to a classroom full of
students in Clare.
Mr. Gaudet said he is pleased with the real progress toward
having the Francophone and Acadian population taking control
of its education.
"I have followed this dossier very closely to make sure that
the changes will not only respect the Canadian Charter of
Rights and Freedom but will also reflect the needs of each
Acadian community. This can only be done with abundant
information to the public. Consultation and participation of
the population in the decision making process can now be
assured by the provincial Acadian Francophone board," said
Mr. Gaudet.
In releasing the report, Mr. Surette praised the working
group for looking at what's needed from a provincial
perspective. "The report presents shared values. Some of
their words include: respect for our communities, devotion
to the well-being of students, and commitment to developing
a school that supports the social, political, economic and
cultural life of our Acadian and Francophone communities. Le
conseil will be built on the common interest of all Acadian
communities."
Friday, Feb. 16, was the last day for applications to serve
on le conseil. Until le conseil is appointed, the working
group, with representatives from across the province, will
continue to meet and plan. Le Conseil Scolaire Acadien
Provincial will serve approximately 4,000 students.
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EDITORS NOTE: There is an accent aigu on the "e" in
Cheticamp and Leon, on the first "e" in Pedagogiques, on the
second "e" in Universite. There is an accent grave on the
first "e" in College.
Contact: Donna MacDonald 902-424-2615 or 902-499-0264
Lisa Bugden 902-499-9632
trp Feb. 19, 1996 - 10:00 a.m.
