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Ontario Education: Excellence For All

The document discusses the creation of an Education Partnership Table in Ontario to improve cooperation between education stakeholders and reduce conflict. It proposes that the Table will [1] engage representatives of groups involved in education to discuss issues and solutions, [2] operate as a problem-solving forum where participants explain different viewpoints to find common ground, and [3] commit members to constructive participation and consensus building to strengthen the education system.

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55 views

Ontario Education: Excellence For All

The document discusses the creation of an Education Partnership Table in Ontario to improve cooperation between education stakeholders and reduce conflict. It proposes that the Table will [1] engage representatives of groups involved in education to discuss issues and solutions, [2] operate as a problem-solving forum where participants explain different viewpoints to find common ground, and [3] commit members to constructive participation and consensus building to strengthen the education system.

Uploaded by

commercepeople5789
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Ontario Education excellence for all

Creating an Education Partnership Table


First in a series of mini-discussion papers prepared for the Education Partnership Table
to permit wide input into the direction of education in Ontario.
March 18, 2004 (v.2)

WORKING TOGETHER that we can achieve this through new methods


of co-operation. Publicly funded education is
The last several years in publicly funded educa-
not and cannot be the sum of competing inter-
tion in Ontario were marked by significant con-
ests. There must always be an overarching pub-
flict, reflected in widespread disagreement about
lic interest that all groups and individuals can
major policies, a record 25 million learning days
identify with and find worthwhile to agree on
lost to students from protest, strikes and lock-
promoting. Further, it needs to be truly the
outs and constant unpredictability in direction
“public” interest, connected to the confidence of
and funding.
the Ontario public at large.

Clearly, this was neither desirable, nor sustain-


The former government declared the way for-
able. One of the related indicators is that one in
ward unilateraly. As Minister of Education, I
four net new students during the past eight
propose instead to set up new ongoing mecha-
years went to private schools instead, which saw
nisms to engage the tremendous insight, skill
a 40 per cent increase in overall enrolment.
and leadership we have within the education
sector and to reach out to the general public.
Particularly striking is the development noted
by the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education
WHY A “PARTNERSHIP”?
(OISE) report The Schools We Need (2003) wherein
even potentially useful reforms undertaken in The idea of partnership reflects the mutual com-
Ontario were so poorly implemented as to mitment that will be required to move publicly
negate their value. funded education in Ontario forward. While
new to this province, it has been tried success-
Meanwhile, other jurisdictions around the world fully in other jurisdictions. Most importantly
are leaving Ontario behind by finding ways to however, it has tremendous potential to fit the
convey an “education advantage” upon their particular situation facing Ontario JK – 12 edu-
children and young adults. The McGuinty gov- cation at present. The same negative experience
ernment believes strongly in the ability of pub- that forced many individuals and groups to con-
licly funded education in Ontario to do as well front needs in the system has also permitted
as anywhere, under the right conditions. many to understand and appreciate possibilities
to a greater degree than might otherwise have
It is self evident that we need peace and stability been possible. The idea of the partnership is to
in our system, particularly now. We propose have processes that will tap into those ideas and

1
aspirations constructively and enable everyone make important contributions to publicly
in education to understand the perspectives and funded education success. We also will work
viewpoints of others. The challenges facing edu- with all groups who need assistance to become
cation are such that we require the very best fully representative.
solutions possible. We can only succeed if the
people who either carry out initiatives in educa- The Table is not a diplomatic gathering where
tion, or are directly affected by them, are able to parties simply state predetermined positions. It
help shape the initiatives and, therefore, are in a can only work if it operates as a problem-solving
position to support them. forum, where participants explain underlying
wants and needs behind positions and bring
HOW WILL THE PARTNERSHIP WORK? facts to bear that allow others to appreciate their
The partnership proposed is on two levels. First, viewpoint.
“education partnership” describes the general
relationship we are seeking with all elements The only overarching premise for the partner-
within education and our government’s commit- ship is that all participants are committed to a
ment to engage everyone who provides publicly stronger publicly funded education system. Par-
funded education services. For example, we ticipants are asked to make an explicit commit-
have created the e-network OPEN (Ontario ment to the Table, as proposed on the following
Provincial Education Network) to better com- page, for an initial year and, ideally, for the full
municate with everyone interested in provincial mandate of the government.
education policy.
The significance of the Table will be determined
Second, leaders of representative groups in edu- by the willingness of its members. How often it
cation are being invited to meetings (the Educa- meets, for example, will be a function of progress
tion Partnership Table) to discuss substantive we are able to make.
problems and issues facing the system and to
contribute to their successful resolution. It is not For the present, it is proposed that the Table
a substitute for other established meetings by meet in private so that members will feel free to
the Minister or the government with individual share views candidly, but that members could
groups or organizations in the sector. It is a also feel free to report their views. Information
forum particularly for groups who represent provided will not be secret, but some may be
large segments of the education effort, whether embargoed temporarily. Discussion papers, for
local electors, students, parents, teachers, sup- example, will be distributed in draft form in
port workers or principals. advance, but then made public only after all
members have had an opportunity for initial
We also intend to involve auxiliary groups, such input.
as non-profit organizations and business, who

Your feedback is welcome and solicited. It should be directed to:

Gerard Kennedy, Minister of Education, 900 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, M7A 1L2
[email protected]

2
PROPOSED EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP COMMITMENTS

The Minister of Education commits to:

• At the earliest stage and to the greatest extent possible, bring substantive policies forward for
discussion before proceeding;

• Attend and chair meetings, participate in discussion and seek agreement on issues;

• Provide advance background information on potential directions to facilitate meaningful


discussion;

• Take all input into account and, wherever possible, provide direct feedback; and

• Participate in activities between Table meetings to develop solutions.

Members of the Education Partnership Table are asked to commit to:

• Participate by providing their own and their members’ perspectives on the common public
interest in publicly funded education;

• Agree to participate constructively and contribute to consensus building;

• Share the information provided on issues with their members and seek out their members’
perspectives;

• Wherever possible, raise issues first at the Table, presenting problems as challenges for all to
examine and help solve; and

• Participate in activities between Table meetings to develop solutions.

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