News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

September 5, 2017

Education and Training Minister Welcomes Students Back to School

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New Resources to Ensure the Success, Well-being of Students: Wishart

As thousands of students head back to school this week, the Manitoba government continues to encourage safe and respectful learning environments with the introduction of several new resources, Education and Training Minister Ian Wishart announced today, in addition to plans to expand digital learning opportunities.

“Parents, students and educators know how important it is to live and learn in a world that is healthy and safe,” said Wishart.  “The resources we’re announcing today will help to ensure schools in Manitoba are respectful and caring places to learn.”

The minister announced three new resources to encourage supportive and racism-free schools, which are available online:

  • Creating Racism-Free Schools through Critical/Courageous Conversations on Race encourages school divisions, teachers, parents and students to have conversations about racism to raise awareness and ensure inclusive and equitable schools and classrooms for students of all backgrounds.  The document acknowledges history, describes the effects of racism, promotes dialogue and supports the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
  • Supporting Transgender and Gender Diverse Students in Manitoba Schools is a new booklet that supports schools and school divisions in fulfilling a shared responsibility to promote the dignity, respect and equity of transgender and gender diverse students in safe and inclusive learning environments.  It supports transgender and gender diverse students by providing:
    • guiding principles,
    • an overview of legal and policy developments in Manitoba,
    • information about trans and gender diverse identities,
    • guidelines for working with trans and gender diverse students and their families including supporting the transition process, and
    • information about trans and gender diverse support services in Manitoba and Canada.
  • Safe and Caring Schools:  A Whole-School Approach to Planning for Safety and Belonging supports school communities in providing safe learning environments for all children and youth.  Using an approach to planning for student safety and belonging that includes all aspects of school life, this updated resource encourages educators, students and parents to work together to address serious issues and prevent bullying, harassment and school violence.

In addition to these resources, the minister noted the province is looking to enhance digital learning opportunities in Manitoba public schools.  This fall, the province will explore ways to build and expand on successful trials of the Learning Partnership’s Coding Quest program at the Pembina Trails and Western school divisions, in which students in grades 4, 5 and 6 learned fundamental coding skills and created a video game.

“Skills learned through coding have become an important part of the new economy and we believe students in Manitoba should have greater opportunities to build these skills,” said Wishart.  “We will continue to study the approaches taken in other provinces with the goal of engaging more students in this kind of learning.”

Throughout the fall, Manitoba Education and Training will continue to work with communities, school divisions and other partners in the development of a comprehensive long-term plan to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes.  The plan will include new curricula in both English and French language arts and a new network of numeracy expertise across the province to support quality instruction and improved learning opportunities for all students.

‎“A quality education is a fundamental building block for growth and success in life,” said the minister.  “We are working together with our partners in Manitoba’s education system to innovate and improve student achievement.”

Wishart also noted that Mamatowisiwin, which means creative centre-learning together in Cree, a professional development series for teachers on supporting the achievement of Indigenous students in literacy and numeracy, will continue this school year.

The new resources can be found at:

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