Work underway to track progress of Nova Scotia’s black students
Posted Oct 19, 2010 09:46:46 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s education minister says work is already underway to track data on the educational progress of the province’s black students through a computerized system that will be fully in place by the fall of 2011.
However, Marilyn More says more crucial work will have to be done to convince members of the black community to identify themselves by race so that appropriate supports can be offered to those who need them.
In a report released last December, consultant Enid Lee raised concerns about the number of students in special programs for those with academic difficulties.
However, she couldn’t be specific about how many are in the programs known as Individual Program Plans because school boards don’t keep records identifying their students by race.
Lee says that can be done in part by consulting with those in the education system who already have connections in the community, including school support workers.
The province has accepted all 68 recommendations in her report and is promising to increase black curriculum development, recruit more black teachers and improve communication with the black community.
