Education Minister Nancy Allan will be joined today by representatives from the Manitoba Association of School Superintendents (MASS), the Manitoba Teachers’ Society (MTS) and the Manitoba School Boards Association (MSBA) to officially launch Education Week 2012.
The province also announced that its graduation rate has increased to 83.5 per cent in 2011 from 71.1 per cent in 2002, a 17 per cent improvement in the rate since 2002.
“I want to congratulate and thank our education partners for working with our government to provide quality education that keeps young people engaged in school and help them attain their diplomas,” said Allan. “The success of our students is something we can all take pride in.”
This year’s Education Week theme, Public Schools Are My Schools, highlights the fact that public education in Manitoba belongs to everyone.
“Public schools and public school teachers welcome children from every background, culture, language, gift and need,” said MTS president Paul Olson. “All Manitobans have the ability to contribute, a responsibility to care and the power to shape our schools for everyone’s benefit.”
MASS president Brian O’Leary agreed, noting, “A strong school system is essential to public health, arts and culture, our economy, indeed to every facet of community life.”
“The theme of this year’s Education Week celebration reminds us that education is not a special interest,” said MSBA president Robert Rivard. “Education is a public interest and our students, schools and communities benefit from greater public support and involvement.”
“Quality education is critical to building a strong future of our province,” said Allan. “Teachers, administrators, parents and trustees deserve credit for the hard work they are doing with government to continually improve the quality of our public education system and help our students succeed.”
