New priorities for Churchill
The province’s new minister of education and early childhood development says improving classroom conditions and rebuilding the province’s relationship with teachers are among his priorities.
Yarmouth MLA Zach Churchill was sworn in as the education minister Thursday along with the remainder of Premier Stephen McNeil’s cabinet.
Churchill takes over the portfolio from Karen Casey, who is now the minister of finance and deputy premier.
The past year has been a challenging one on the education front with a third NSTU-recommended contract rejected by teachers, months of work-to-rule in schools and the controversial decision to impose a contact on teachers.
Asked about priorities moving forward, Churchill said he’ll be awaiting a report on inclusive education and its recommendations.
Churchill said implementing recommendations from the work done by the Council to Improve Classroom Conditions is another high priority.
“And we obviously have to go out and rebuild the relationship that we have with a lot of the teachers in our province,” he said. “I’m absolutely committed to doing that.”
He said the goal is to improve working conditions for teachers and learning conditions for students.
“I think we’re going to be in a really good position to see some positive changes,” he said. “Things are not going to happen overnight, it’s a very big system, but I’m very committed to doing my part to improve it.”
Another area of attention will be the Liberal’s campaign commitment for a universal preschool program for four year olds, that they said would begin this fall in 30 new classes.
Classes would have about 25 students with two early childhood educators. The initial phase would provide access for approximately 750 children.
Churchill said there is still work to be done to finalize how the program will unfold and operate.
“We’re going to work with our current early learner providers to make sure we have a system in place that makes sense for kids, families and the professionals that are going to be doing this work for us,” he said.
“I’m going to take time as the minister to consult with the public and the professionals that have been doing this work in our communities and make sure that we have a system in place that makes sense for everybody.”
Churchill, the father of an infant daughter, was never a teacher, although he comes from a family of teachers.
Nova Scotia Teachers Union president Liette Doucet sent along her congratulations to Churchill on his appointment and said she looks forward to meeting with him in the near future.
“There are many challenges facing our education system today,” said Doucet.