Ministry of Education
VICTORIA – As students, parents and teachers settle back into their routines after the winter break, the Ministry of Education is reminding everyone of the Province’s new curriculum, designed to set students up for success in today’s changing world.
The ministry is now halfway through the three-year roll out of the redesigned curriculum, which has been fully implemented in every kindergarten-to-Grade 9 classroom since September 2016.
As the new curriculum continues to roll out, students will still learn the basic skills of reading, writing and math but now in a way that connects them to the collaboration, critical thinking and communication skills needed to succeed after high school.
Currently, teachers are trying out new draft curricula in grades 10 to 12 and offering their feedback. By the start of the 2018-19 school year, the 10-12 curriculum will be completely in place, creating a seamless path for students to university, college or trades training.
The 2018-19 school year also will see basic coding introduced as a mandatory piece of B.C.’s redesigned curriculum. This critical skill will be taught to every student by the end of Grade 9.
Coding is all about analyzing a problem, determining the steps to fix it, and then directing a machine to carry out those steps. Whether or not students pursue careers in the technology sector, these are vital critical-thinking skills for future success. That is why the B.C. government is investing $6 million to train teachers in coding and the new curriculum and to purchase equipment for classrooms.
With the new curriculum, the way students are assessed – and how parents receive information on their child’s progress – is adapting. Parents have until Feb. 28, 2017, to help shape what information they receive and how by giving their feedback online: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/yourkidsprogress
The ministry also has a new plan for Foundational Skills Assessments (FSAs) and provincial exams. B.C. standards remain high, testing remains rigorous, and combined with in-class assignments and exams, student knowledge will be thoroughly tested.
Learn more about B.C.’s new curriculum: https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/
More information on the new FSA: https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/assessment-reporting/new-foundation-skills-assessment
