Prime Highlights:
- Independent study of education boards mandated by P.E.I. government with dire student safety problems.
- Pro Probe to be led by ex-deputy education minister David H. Jenkins and to report on upgrading safety.
Key Facts:
- The review follows a series of recent events which highlighted fears regarding student safety procedures across the province.
- Third-party probe will analyze school functioning, leadership responses, and current safety regimes.
Key Background:
The Government of Prince Edward Island has initiated a third-party review of its education system following high-profile incidents involving student safety that put the matter into limelight. The move is to restore public trust and rectify systemic breakdowns in the education system. This came after Education and Early Years Minister Natalie Jameson made the announcement, indicating it is due to the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards harming students.
David H. Jenkins, the former deputy minister of education, has been tasked with this independent review. His extensive background in education and public service is anticipated to provide clarity and accountability to the reviewing process. Jenkins has been directed to conduct a general review of the three education authorities on the Island: the Public Schools Branch, La Commission scolaire de langue française, and the Department of Education.
The review will examine how the agencies respond to safety complaints, accountability in leadership, practice in school administration, and communication policies. It also aims to establish any loopholes that have made the incidents possible and continue to exist. Minister Jameson reaffirmed that student safety is not negotiable, and any default in responding the right way will be thoroughly investigated.
The decision comes amid increased public outcry and media attention concerning the handling of individual cases of student safety. Although information regarding the incidents is not public, the government action stems from an overall need to guarantee secure learning conditions for every student. Future policy reforms and procedural adjustments will be guided by the review’s findings.
The Jenkins’ final report is due by early fall, and its recommendations would be published. The P.E.I. government has promised that it would act expeditiously based on the review’s recommendations in order to develop a culture of safety and accountability in its schools.
