Transition Task Force Working to Help Students Succeed

NOTE: A list of members of the Transition Task Force follows this release.

A new task force is focused on identifying and addressing the challenges students face as they move from high school to post-secondary education, training or the workforce.

The Transition Task Force will make recommendations on how to more effectively support student success in the workforce and post-secondary education and training.

"Ensuring our youth stay in Nova Scotia and participate in our workforce is of the utmost importance to the economic, cultural, and social success of our province," said Nick Head-Petersen, executive director of Students Nova Scotia. "I'm pleased to be part of the task force. It's an exciting opportunity to provide recommendations on improving how young people have access to career information, follow their chosen career path, gain meaningful employment and grow to prosper in Nova Scotia."

The deputy ministers of Education and Early Childhood Development and Labour and Advanced Education chair the task force, which is made up of educators, businesses and youth representatives.

"We want to identify and remove any roadblocks or barriers that are hindering academic and career readiness for students," said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Karen Casey. "Every Nova Scotian has a stake in making sure today's student receives the most modern, innovative and first-class education in order to reach his or her full potential and succeed in life. The future success of our province depends on our young people."

The task force is being guided by the priorities of the 3 Rs, Renew, Refocus, Rebuild, Nova Scotia's Action Plan for Education, and recommendations will align with the goals of the ONE Nova Scotia Coalition report.

The task force is discussing how to:

• deliver relevant and timely career decision-making information to students, parents and teachers
• ensure students can get meaningful work experience to inform and enhance career and education success
• support students who leave the public school system without the requirements for post-secondary education or the workplace
• help students successfully complete post-secondary education and meet their educational goals
• ensure students have access to post-secondary programs that match the labour market

"Some of our young people are caught in transition - they may not have the grades to go to university, college or other training, or they don't have the means to go back to school," said Labour and Advanced Education Minister Kelly Regan. "This task force will help shape our actions to better prepare our youth for their futures, and ensure they have the skills they need for success."

Recommendations will be presented to the ministers by March 31.

The new Transition Task Force is part of government's Make It Here initiative to connect young Nova Scotians with government programs for education and training, and entering the workforce. It is also part of the five-year education action plan, which focuses on fundamental changes to renew, refocus and rebuild the education system for the first time in a generation. The action plan can be found at http://www.ednet.ns.ca/.

Members of Transition Task Force:

• Duff Montgomerie (co-chair), deputy minister of Labour and Advanced Education
• Sandra McKenzie (co-chair), deputy minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
• Cal Gosse, senior executive, IBM
• Susan Ritchie, president, Nova Scotia School Board Association
• Lisa Doucet, superintendent, Tri-County Regional School Board
• Diane Racette, superintendant, Conseil scolaire acadian provincial
• William (Bill) Kaulbach, principal, Cobequid Educational Center
• Loretta Welsh, finance director, Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey
• Andrea Noylander, teacher, Charles P. Allen High School and board chair, Black Educators Association
• Rosalind Penfound, vice-president, academic, Nova Scotia Community College
• Anna Burke, vice-president, enrolment, Nova Scotia Community College
• Dianne Taylor-Gearing, president, NSCAD University
• Robert Summerby-Murray, president, Saint Mary's University
• Scott Blakeney, Nova Scotia Association of Architects board member, Blaikies Motor Hub Group
• Duncan Williams, president, Construction Association of Nova Scotia
• Nick Head-Petersen, executive director, Students Nova Scotia
• Keith MacDonald, president and CEO, Cape Breton Partnership Inc.
• Leslie Gallagher, president and CEO, Worklocal.jobs (former member)