The Manitoba government announced plans on Monday, March 15, 2021, to eliminate 37 school boards and replace them with a provincial education authority. The french school division – Division Scolaire franco-manitobaine (DSFM) – will be maintained.
As part of the plan, the province will be divided into 15 geographic education regions which will each send elected members to sit on a provincial advisory council on education.
Education Plan
Education Minister Cliff Cullen said that the province expects to move $40 million currently used to cover administration costs to the classroom.
“Maintaining the status quo puts our students further behind, and that is why our government is making the necessary reforms and investing in our children’s futures,” said Cullen. “By unifying our system and focusing educators on what matters most – student outcomes – the government expects up to $40 million will be shifted to the classrooms to support educational results.”
The minister noted that parents will also have the opportunity to participate in a more meaningful way through new local School Community Councils that will be established by 2023.
Manitoba Education will be holding public consultations on a variety of issues as it moves forward on the changes.
Full Commission Report
The changes are expected to be in place by July 2022 stemming from a report commissioned in 2019. The lead consultant of the education review, Avis Glaze made similar recommendations in a Nova Scotia report.
© News4.ca 2021
