Connecting, Care and Challenge: Tapping Our Human Potential - Inclusive Education: A Review of Programming and Services in New Brunswick

Abstract

The challenges inherent in this broad ranging Review of inclusive education in New Brunswick are exceeded only by the Review’s importance. New Brunswick has much to be proud of as a pioneer in inclusion and it has achieved impressive results in the face of many obstacles. The goals of the New Brunswick system are ambitious and the expectations high. It is a dual language system that respects both official language groups and encourages bilingualism through french immersion programs. It attempts to serve rural and urban populations with some degree of equality. It aspires, through the Quality Learning Agenda, to greatly improve its performance on the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) scores, as administered by the Organization for Economic and Cultural Development (OECD). And last but by no means least, it wants to deliver high quality inclusive education for all New Brunswick students. This is a tall order made even taller by the small population base and the limited budget available in the province. There are many positive features in New Brunswick that also offer hope. The government has signaled through its Quality Learning Agenda and the commissioning of this Review, that it is committed to improving the education system in the province. Based on the extremely useful consultations described in detail in Phase II of this Review, many people care about the education of children and are committed to making the education system even better. These people include school administrators, teachers, students, parents and a wide range of citizens and community groups, who shared their thoughts and insights with us. There is a strong desire to do an even better job of delivering inclusive education. A willingness to contemplate change also emerged from this process, and this was clear in the consultations.