The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Education, will today introduce amendments the Schools Act, 1997, for second reading in the House of Assembly. If passed, these amendments will strengthen the Act and coincide with the ongoing work on the integration of the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District into the Department of Education.

Minister Haggie will be available to provide details of the proposed amendments prior to debate in the House of Assembly today (Monday, October 31) at noon in the front of the House of Assembly, East Block, Confederation Building.

The proposed changes to the Act include:

• Introducing a Provincial Advisory Council on Education.  This group will take on an advisory role to the Minister of Education on all matters relating to K-12 education.  The advisory council will ensure that school councils and parents from around the province have a coordinated voice concerning educational issues;
• Amendments to the governance structure of the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District, including:
  • Removing the requirement for an elected board at the district. An integration board of Deputy Ministers was put in place in 2022, and will remain until the integration is complete;
  • Replacing references to the Director of Education for the district with a new Superintendent position.  This is a change in title to distinguish the role as the integration continues; and
  • Removing the requirement for a board to appoint an associate director and assistant directors.
• Additional amendments to help modernize the Act, including updating the powers and duties of the board and the Francophone School District and incorporating gender neutral language.

These proposed updates support staff with the Department of Education and the school district as the integration process moves forward.

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“These amendments, if passed, will allow for the full integration of the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District into the Department of Education.  The creation of an advisory council will give parents a stronger voice in the delivery of education.  As always, we are focused on creating an education system that will provide the best possible outcomes for students.”
Honourable John Haggie
Minister of Education

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Le gouvernement présente les modifications proposées à la Schools Act [loi sur les écoles]

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Schools Act, 1997

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Media contact
Lynn Robinson
Education
709-729-1906, 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca