News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Atlantic ministers of education and training have begun steps to promote career development in public schools.

They are also agreed to collaborate in training for education staff in the area of autism and to promote greater co-operation in post-secondary education.  

They took these steps during a meeting held Jan. 30 in Fredericton by the Council of Atlantic Ministers of Education and Training.

The meeting was attended by Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Jody Carr; Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Marie-Claude Blais; Kevin O'Brien, minister of advanced education and skills, Newfoundland and Labrador; Kelly Regan, minister of labour and advanced education, Nova Scotia; J. Alan McIsaac, minister of education and early childhood development, Prince Edward Island; and Allen F. Roach, minister of innovation and advanced learning, Prince Edward Island.

Career education and development

Building on a number of high-quality career education programs and resources, and diverse approaches to the delivery across the Atlantic provinces, the ministers recognized the importance of mobilizing their efforts to support students' transition from public to post-secondary education. While provinces have made significant advances in promoting and supporting post-secondary participation, shifts are occurring in provincial labour markets that are affecting the nature of work and careers, particularly for young people. Therefore, the ministers said, it is critical that provinces consider ways to strengthen and deliver leading-edge career development programs and services.

The ministers received a presentation from Sareena Hopkins and Donnalee Bell from the Canadian Career Development Foundation. The presentation focused on best practices in career education.

The ministers agreed to strengthen career education and development in Atlantic Canada, and they asked their senior officials to explore targeted initiatives and recommend appropriate provincial and regional actions to help students in developing the critical knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to effectively manage career choices, transition and progression. In addition, they agreed that further work needs to be undertaken on improving transition from high school to post-secondary education.
 
The ministers said they strongly believe that a successful transition from public to post-secondary education will improve the socio-economic status of Atlantic Canadians. High-quality career development support will have a positive impact on educational attainment, especially in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, on increasing worker productivity, and decreasing health dependence on social assistance and criminal involvement.

It is envisioned that successful career education and development programs will lead to higher retention in post-secondary education programs, help students to make sound career choices, and lay the foundation for lifelong learning.

Post-secondary education

The ministers discussed challenges and opportunities facing post-secondary education in the Atlantic region within the context of the current fiscal environment in the provinces, its long-term sustainability, and the overall role of institutions in meeting the region's labour market needs.

To help ministers better understand these emerging opportunities and challenges, Harvey Weingarten, president and chief executive officer of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, made a presentation on global, national and regional trends in higher education and how these are manifested in Atlantic Canada. The ministers engaged in a strategic discussion and developed a common understanding on the overall value and future role of post-secondary education.   

The ministers said they were committed to sustainable and accountable high-quality post-secondary education systems in each province and agreed to promote greater collaboration within the Atlantic region by continuing a meaningful dialogue, provincially and regionally, with all stakeholders.

Autism partnership

The ministers announced the establishment of an inter-provincial partnership on autism training for teachers, resource teachers, paraprofessionals and administrators. Building on the training program introduced in New Brunswick in 2011, the regional program will lead to consistency in training, build capacity across all four provinces through an e-learning program that promotes evidence-based practice, be responsive to emerging research and needs, as well as achieve efficiencies in delivery.

The ministers said they recognized that the opportunities discussed will build on previous successful regional initiatives undertaken jointly in the past 40 years. Through a regional forum such as the council and other agencies, provinces have achieved program efficiencies and substantial cost savings in the area of joint purchases of school textbooks, software, and school buses, as well as collaboration in post-secondary education research.