NDP asks for clarity in curriculum review

Opposition NDP education critic Carla Beck is seeking clarity on what curriculum is included in the province’s ongoing review.

A committee was created by the province during the summer to review curriculum for secondary arts education, secondary social sciences, practical and applied arts, and physical education 20/30.

Then, last month in the throne speech, coding and math instruction were added as priorities for the curriculum development.

In response to that throne speech, Education Minister Bronwyn Eyre caused controversy for suggesting there might be too much “infusion” of First Nations history in school curriculum. She then used her son’s homework (her description of which later turned out to be inaccurate) as an example, in an apparent attempt to create a dialogue on how First Nations issues should be taught in Saskatchewan schools.

During the immediate aftermath of the controversy last week, Eyre committed to keeping treaty education mandatory, as it has been for a decade, but questioned how certain subjects should be taught — particularly in high school or secondary social sciences. She said she was raising a “potential discussion” and questioning, “do we have one course in grades 10, 11 and 12? Or do we infuse across curriculum.”

“It’s just a discussion, I think, that we might have and I think it’s appropriate that one can have these serious discussions about such things as curriculum and how these things are best taught, not whether they’re taught. Heaven forbid, that is not the question. It’s how they’re taught,” she said.

Days later, she shied away from sharing her thoughts on the merits or faults of a single course versus infusion. Instead, she simply told members of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) that treaty education would remain in place.

There are continued calls for Eyre’s resignation, including from the NDP, over her response to the throne speech, which also seemingly compared the experiences of First Nations to her immigrant grandparents.

In response to those calls, Premier Brad Wall said Wednesday he is “absolutely” standing by Eyre.

His remarks also changed the tune on any review of First Nations curriculum when he said there are only two curriculum changes being contemplated.

“I’m only telling you that from my position, and those will be around coding to make sure we’re doing a better job around computer science and technology by our kids in school, and math curriculum changes, and that is it,” he said.

Now the NDP is unclear what is being reviewed regarding Indigenous education in the province and, says Beck, “what future plans there were around that curriculum.”

The curriculum review committee is expected to meet three times this school year, and then twice a year over the four subsequent years.

Eyre did not speak with reporters gathered at the Legislative Building in Regina on Thursday.