People for Education launches bold new five-year initiative: The Education Promise
The Education Promise will launch this week at the first Education Promise Summit in Toronto. The Summit will bring together youth, leaders in education, business, civil society, and academia to debate policy recommendations to strengthen public education and position it at the forefront to Canada’s response to the current economic, climate, health, and democratic crises.
“Canada’s long-term survival and resilience relies on strong public education systems,” says Annie Kidder, Executive Director of People for Education. “Public education not only provides a remarkably high return on investment, but with more than 90% of Canadian students attending publicly-funded schools it’s also the most effective place to equip young people with the skills, knowledge, and competencies they need to thrive in a complex and increasingly divided world.”
A pan-Canadian, cross-sector strategy for future strength
In addition to youth and leading academics, the Education Promise Advisory Board includes representatives from the Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER), Calgary Chamber of Commerce, Canadian School Boards Association, Canadian Teachers’ Federation, C.D. Howe Institute, The Centre for Leading Research in Education (CLRiE) at Wilfrid Laurier University, CERIC, Child Health Policy Accelerator at SickKids, Connected North, Deloitte’s Future of Canada Centre, EdCan, Fondation Québec Philanthrope, Future Skills Centre, Habitat for Humanity, Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC), Inspiring Healthy Futures, Karanga: The Global Alliance for Social Emotional Learning and Life Skills, Maytree, Metcalf Foundation, Ontario Mining Association, Rideau Hall Foundation, Samara Centre for Democracy, Students Commission of Canada, UNICEF Canada, Wellesley Institute, and Youth Climate Lab.
“We are honoured that so many thoughtful policy and sector leaders have lent their time, passion, and insights to the important work of The Education Promise,” says Paris Semansky, Director of Systems Change for People for Education. Their belief in the promise of public education is what will continue to fuel our work and impact. They know that to meet our country’s biggest challenges – from productivity to polarization – we need to strengthen public education as a key part of our renewed public infrastructure, not only a service.”
Building on a strong foundation
Canada’s public education systems are among the strongest in the world. In international comparisons, Canadian 15-year-olds consistently rank among the top 10 globally in reading, mathematics, and science. High graduation rates and post-secondary participation rates are hallmarks of public education in Canada, and relative to other OECD countries, Canada has narrower gaps in educational outcomes among diverse student populations. These achievements reflect the dedication of educators, the strength of Canada’s public systems, and a long-standing commitment to equity and excellence.But these strengths are under pressure. Across the country, public schools are being asked to do more with less and to address a growing range of complex social, economic, and health challenges, while adapting to rapid technological and demographic change.
“It’s time for a new conversation about public education,” says Kidder. “One that brings educators to the table alongside leaders in business, climate, and health, and includes the voices of young people. With that conversation, we can build a stronger, more equitable, and more resilient Canada.”
What our partners are saying
“Canada’s future skills and innovation capacity are built in classrooms today. That’s why The Education Promise is such a vital initiative—it brings together partners from across sectors to ensure our public education system evolves to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world. By working collaboratively, we can equip young people not only with the foundational skills they need, but also with the adaptability, creativity, and critical thinking that tomorrow’s jobs will demand.”Noel Baldwin, Executive Director of Future Skills Centre and member of The Education Promise Advisory Board
“School boards across Canada are on the front lines of delivering the promise of public education every day. The Education Promise represents a crucial opportunity to elevate the vital role of public education in addressing the urgent challenges facing our country. This is important cross-sector work that recognizes public education not only as a right, but as a catalyst for equity, economic resilience, and democratic strength.”Alan Campbell, President, Canadian School Boards Association
“It has never been more urgent to enable this generation’s active citizenship through their right to education. Initiatives like The Education Promise are responding to this moment with broad cross-sectoral collaboration and knowledge exchange. This kind of large-scale effort will serve young people and strengthen Canada’s democracy.”Sabreena Delhon, CEO, Samara Centre for Democracy and member of The Education Promise Advisory Board
“If we’re serious about building a productive, innovative, and adaptable workforce, then education must be at the core of our strategy. Public education is the pipeline through which the next generation of entrepreneurs, leaders, and skilled workers will emerge. It’s not just a social issue – it’s an economic imperative.”Ruhee Ismail-Teja, Vice-President Policy and External Affairs of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and member of The Education Promise Advisory Board
“Young people must be at the centre of education transformation. The Education Promise is a powerful platform that can bring youth voices into the conversation and will allow for important cross-sector and inter-generational dialogue to shape of a better future.”Sharif Mahdy, Chief Executive Officer, Students Commission of Canada and member of The Education Promise Advisory Board
“The Education Promise is a transformative initiative that will have a direct positive impact on K-12 education systems in Canada. I look forward to representing ICTC while collaborating with leaders across sectors and jurisdictions Canada-wide to tackle key challenges, support educators and communities, and empower the next generation with the knowledge and skills needed to grow Canada’s digital economy. Through our ongoing work with students—including digital literacy, career exploration, and future skills development—ICTC remains committed to ensuring youth are prepared to thrive in Canada’s rapidly evolving digital economy.”
Lissa Matyas, Vice-President of Capacity Building and Innovation, Information and Communication Technology Council (ICTC)
“A strong, equitable public education system is foundational to Canada’s long-term economic resilience. At BHER, we know that aligning education with labour market needs starts early. That’s why we’re proud to support The Education Promise—an essential initiative connecting public education as a key upstream policy solution to ensuring we have the skills, partnerships, and opportunities that drive our future workforce.”Matthew McKean, Chief R&D Office, BHER and member of The Education PromiseAdvisory Board
“Healthy children learn better, and learning supports health. The Education Promisehighlights the importance of working across policy areas to have integrated, upstream policy approaches to support young people to thrive and flourish.”Charlotte Moore Hepburn, Medical Director, Child Health Policy Accelerator at SickKids, Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto and member of The Education Promise Advisory Board
“Youth are already leading climate action and there are many opportunities for schools to continue to support them to be better equipped for our rapidly changing world. Youth deserve to be equipped with the skills, knowledge and opportunities that will help them shape their future. The Education Promise makes the critical link between education, sustainability, and intergenerational justice.”Siobhan Takala, Programs Director, Youth Climate Lab and member of The Education Promise Advisory Board
“To build a strong and sustainable economy, we have to start with education. That means making sure young people have the skills and knowledge to succeed in sectors like mining, where innovation, sustainability, and problem-solving are essential. The Education Promise is a critical step toward connecting education with the realities of Canada’s future economy.”Priya Tandon, President, Ontario Mining Association and The Education PromiseAdvisory Board member
Media Contact:
Paris Semansky
Director of Systems Change, People for Education
[email protected]
416-476-9534