June 8, 2022
Manitoba Government Accepting Applications for Education and Early Childhood Learning's Student Advisory Council
– – –Members to Bring Valuable Input, Diversity of Opinions, Ideas to K to 12 Education Action Plan Priorities: Ewasko
The Manitoba government is now accepting applications for the province’s Student Advisory Council, Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Wayne Ewasko announced today.
“Students are the pillar of our education system and student voices should play a role in shaping it,” said Ewasko. “In the first year of the Student Advisory Council, members provided valuable input and have brought a diversity of opinions, ideas and lived experiences to the department’s K to 12 Education Action Plan priorities. I invite all Manitoba students between the ages of 14 and 18 to apply to this year’s council.”
The Student Advisory Council reports directly to the minister of education and early childhood learning. The role of the council is to provide insights and advice on issues and topics that are current and emerging for kindergarten to Grade 12 students.
Students meet with the minister, government staff and education stakeholders and work with a diverse group of other young people. At the end of their term, the students will draft a report for the minister and receive a formal recognition certificate to mark their participation.
The current council is made up of 30 Manitoba youth aged 14 to 18 from across the province. To date, the council has participated in six student-centered engagements and provided their input on many different topics including:
- poverty and education;
- mental health and well-being;
- curriculum and assessment;
- student presence and attendance;
- student suspensions; and
- the K to12 Action Plan.
The minister noted participating in the council helps students develop their leadership skills while experiencing what it is like to sit on a council and support the continuous improvement of K to 12 education.
Council members for 2022-23 will serve a 12-month term starting in August 2022 and ending in August 2023. Current Student Advisory Council members that continue to meet the eligibility criteria will be considered for a second term.
“It was such a privilege to be able to meet and work with students from all over Manitoba and I can say without a doubt that I created some long-lasting friendships,” said Suroor Ajani, co-chair, Student Advisory Committee, and student, Erickson Collegiate. “Students have a different lens when it comes to education in Manitoba, perhaps a lens that adults may not look through. This is why it is so important to have youth voicing their opinion about issues that impact them firsthand, and the council was my outlet to achieve this.”
“The experience on the Student Advisory Council has truly been eye-opening,” said Bijan Salimi, student, Morden Collegiate Institute. “It has shown me that we have gone far too long without hearing marginalized voices in the decision-making process and I am glad this historic council has and will continue to change that. I would highly encourage students to take the step of becoming advocates and aid in helping create positive change on a provincial level. The ability you have to create change just by sharing your own perspective of the education system is incredible.”
The deadline for applications is June 27. The first council meeting of the school year is scheduled for August.
The Student Advisory Council launched in March 2021 in response to recommendations from Manitoba’s Commission on Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education. Its creation also directly aligns with Manitoba’s K to 12 Education Action Plan.
For more information on the Student Advisory Council and how students can apply, visit: https://edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/action_plan/studentadvisorycouncil.html.
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