Ministers of Education Report to Canadians on Official Languages in Education
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TORONTO, November 24, 2011 — Today marks the release by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), of the Pan-Canadian Report on Official Languages in Education, 2005–06 to 2008–09.
The report was compiled jointly by provinces and territories through CMEC with financial assistance from the Government of Canada. It describes the wide variety of programs, initiatives, and projects in minority-language education and second-language instruction that were carried out in provinces and territories between 2005 and 2009, and were supported in part by a federal contribution of $1.02 billion under the Protocol for Agreements for Minority-Language Education and Second- Language Instruction, an agreement between CMEC, on behalf of all provinces and territories, and the Government of Canada. Similar multi-year protocols have been in place since 1983. These collaborative arrangements have been instrumental in providing opportunities for young Canadians to learn their second official language and addressing the needs of anglophone and francophone communities throughout Canada.
“Ministers of education are committed to the provision of comprehensive official-languages education programs for provincial and territorial learners,” said the Honourable Ramona Jennex, Chair of CMEC and Minister of Education for Nova Scotia. “The report we are releasing today provides Canadians with a rich portrait of the efforts of provinces and territories, through their own substantial investments, and with the financial assistance of the federal government, to support and improve the quality of minority-language education and second-language instruction.”
Arranged by province and territory, the information in the report includes financial and enrolment data as well as detailed descriptions of key activities and initiatives in minority- and second-language education at all levels of provincial and territorial education systems, from elementary and secondary school to postsecondary studies. Support for teacher training and development is also outlined.
Official languages in education have long been a part of the work of CMEC. Ministers of education reconfirmed their strong support for minority-language education and second language instruction in their 2008 declaration, Learn Canada 2020.
The full text of the report and a convenient highlights document are available on line, as are recent official-languages protocols:
About CMEC
Founded in 1967, CMEC is the collective voice of Canada's ministers of education. It provides leadership in education at the pan-Canadian and international levels. For more information, visit us at www.cmec.ca.
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Colin Bailey
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