Throne speech: K-12 long-term program overhaul promised

The Newfoundland and Labrador government promisedto overhaul the province's K-12 education systemin the speech from the throne Tuesday afternoon.

Government also promised to create a balanced budget in2020-2021, as well as to release a long-awaitedpopulation growth strategy and a new fiscal framework for municipalities.

Lt.-Gov. Frank Fagan delivered the speech, the first such address since Paul Davis became premier last fall.

The education reform promises to be wide-ranging.Government willreview the province'smath curriculum, andwill launch a long-term infrastructure plan for the K-12 system.

"We will develop a 21st century curriculum employing methods that integrate innovative and research-driven strategies, modern learning technologies and relevant resources and context and focusing on learning skills that address the needs to a new generation of students," Fagan said in the speech.

Government will also bring together a group of "education leaders" to review the province's math curriculum.

A multi-year K-12 infrastructure development plan will be unveiled by the province to prepare for projected growth, and a new plan for early childhood learning development will also be releasedin the coming year, Fagan said.

In Tuesday's speech, government is promising to reinstate and expand the family violence intervention court with a "broader provincial reach."

The $500,000court, which was a pilot project by government,was eliminatedin the 2013 budget.

Oil price dip limits plans

The forthcoming population growth strategywill "align the workforce with local job opportunities, enhance supports for families of all sizes and ages, support community well-being and economic development and increase the attraction and retention of immigrants to the province," Fagan said.

To support the strategy, Fagan said government will launch new information tools with market information to inform Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and potential immigrants about where opportunities exist in the province.

In the speech, Fagan said government will expand research and development supports in education and business.

He highlighted the approval of construction of a new facility to house Memorial University's core science programs, as well as house new research laboratories to focus on R&D.

Fagan said in the speech there were "many other things" government could have done if not faced with the "unprecedented and unanticipated" drop in oil prices.

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