In the next 10 years, 4 million young people in Canada will enter a rapidly evolving workforce and society. To meet the demands of our changing world, and to thrive in the new skills/knowledge economy, our public education system must also evolve to effectively respond to these rapidly shifting needs of Canadian students.

On November 4^th, the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation released a report on the findings from their Re-Imagine Education initiative, Education Re-Imagined: 12 Actions for Education. The report synthesizes feedback from a series of public consultations with key stakeholders, including parents, teachers, caregivers, Chambers of Commerce, and post-secondary institutions.

The report makes 12 evidence-informed recommendations to refresh and restart the education system across Saskatchewan, including promoting a safer learning environment and more funding for public education.

The purpose of education should be raising good citizens, individuals who could be responsible, honest, strong, polite, informed, and caring. – Education Re-Imagined

Saskatchewan takes a bold step to evolve education

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation first announced the Re-Imagine Education initiative in April 2018 at the Annual Meeting of Council.  The goals of the initiative were to examine current education challenges, envision what the future might hold, and make intentional steps to turn that vision into a reality.

Re-Imagine Education initiative’s final report, Education Re-Imagined: 12 Actions for Education, details 10 months of public consultations on how people envision the future of public education in the province:

The report identifies four key areas for evolution in Saskatchewan’s education system.

1.  The learning environment must be a safe, inclusive space for all learners that includes health supports, community supports, smaller class sizes, and fewer standardized tests.
2. Decision-making in education needs to be a shared responsibility that integrates a variety of voices, such as government, school boards, teachers, parents, students and community members.
3. Legislation and policy in education needs to be frequently updated and must be adaptable to different students and communities.
4. Education funding is paramount in re-imagining education in Saskatchewan and should be directed by student needs versus political agendas.

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation recognizes that strengthening and improving the province’s education system is a shared responsibility and it requires buy-in from key stakeholders to make this bold initiative a reality.

The decisions we make about education today will change the way we experience our lives tomorrow. – Re-Imagine Education Initiative

The future is now

Saskatchewan’s proposal to revamp their public education system fits within a larger global conversation about preparing students for a world we cannot yet imagine.

Recently, UNESCO announced the launch of their Futures of Education initiative. The initiative has convened an international commission to consult on how knowledge and learning can impact the future of humanity and the world by 2050. UNESCO recognizes how global issues, such as climate change, the rise of artificial intelligence, and political extremism, are shaping our future and they see education as “humanity’s greatest renewable resource” to respond to these challenges.

This month, People for Education will be hosting a national summit to start the conversation about how we can re-imagine the future of public education as a country and what the future will look like in 2030 and beyond.