Online Survey Timeline - Question Period
MS. CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. On October 11th, we learned that a knowledgeable expert, Dr. Avis Glaze, had been hired to conduct an education system administrative review. Despite the very short timeline, both the minister and the B.C.-based experts said they were coming to this review with an open mind and were interested in listening to all stakeholders.
Yesterday we found out that parents and members of the public will have 10 days to provide feedback through an online survey with three broad, vague questions. In the midst of packing lunches and taking kids to school, I wonder how many parents will find the time to engage with this process.
Mr. Speaker, does the minister think the concerns of parents will be adequately captured in this manner?
HON. ZACH CHURCHILL « » : Mr. Speaker, we are very proud to have found Dr. Glaze who is a world-renowned expert in these matters. We are taking leadership on the questionnaire, on the timeline for it, from her. She is currently out meeting with board representatives in communities as we speak and of course the public has another venue via the Internet, to submit their thoughts on the administrative model.
I think that any parent who has an interest in this will take the time to fill out that survey and ensure that their views are properly heard in this process. Thank you.
MS. CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, I wonder about parents who don't have access to the Internet and who are already disadvantaged.
In this government's first mandate they commissioned the Freeman report, which made 30 recommendations based on 19,000 completed surveys. The final report from the Commission on Inclusive Education is due March 18th. Extensive consultations on pre-Primary are expected to begin in the next few weeks.
Last February thousands and thousands of educators and parents and members of the public came to this Legislature to voice their concerns about the administration of the education system. Unfortunately, members of this government were not there to listen to them.
Mr. Speaker, how many times and in how many ways do parents have to express their concerns before this government will listen to them?
MR. CHURCHILL « » : Mr. Speaker, this process is a continuation of the Myra Freeman report. In fact, she had a recommendation to review the structural model. We have not heard from just parents, we have heard from teachers and students who have identified a number of challenges in the system, which we are all tackling systematically, the system of inclusion, early learning, our administrative model and classroom conditions which impede teachers from focusing on teaching.
These are the focuses of our government, based on the feedback we've had from the public and we are not going to waste a day in bringing forward transformative changes that will have a positive impact on the lives of our kids. Thank you.
Published by Order of the Legislature by Hansard Reporting Services and printed by the Queen's Printer.
Available on INTERNET at http://nslegislature.ca/index.php/proceedings/hansard/