Sask. NDP accuses Dustin Duncan of disparaging public training
Breadcrumb Path Hyperlinks Saskatchewan Sask. Politics Duncan mentioned his feedback had been meant to indicate…
Duncan mentioned his feedback had been meant to indicate that college students in Saskatchewan, irrespective of the place they go, are getting a very good training.
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Schooling Minister Dustin Duncan says he isn’t ragging on public and Catholic faculties after the NDP accused him of doing so for his remarks on pupil grades.
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Home Chief Nicole Sarauer grilled Duncan on Thursday throughout query interval within the Saskatchewan legislature, accusing him of dragging the publicly funded methods “by the mud,” after he prompt certified impartial faculty college students have higher marks than youngsters who attend Catholic or public faculties.
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Duncan had instructed the chamber on Tuesday that 57 per cent of scholars in certified impartial faculties scored increased than 80 per cent on their departmental exams over the past yr, whereas 54 per cent of scholars in Catholic or public faculties scored increased than 80 per cent.
Duncan pointed to the marks as proof college students in certified impartial faculties are receiving a “good training.” He re-affirmed that the federal government helps dad and mom with the ability to ship their youngsters to impartial faculties.
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On Thursday, Duncan instructed the meeting he wasn’t criticizing public training when he made his feedback.
He mentioned he was making an attempt to reveal that, no matter the place college students attend faculty, they’re “acting at or close to the identical mark.”
He mentioned 68 per cent of scholars in affiliate faculties, that are non secular faculties which have an working settlement with public faculties, had a mark above 80 per cent for his or her departmental exams.
“College students, even in impartial faculties … are studying the curriculum and may rating close to the place public faculty college students are in terms of departmentals,” he mentioned.
Sarauer instructed the chamber certified impartial faculties aren’t held to the identical requirements “and that their marks are inflated.”
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She mentioned public and Catholic faculties don’t get to select and select their college students.
“I hope this minister actually realizes he’s not the minister for certified impartial faculties. He’s truly the minister for all of training,” she mentioned.
Duncan has been beneath fireplace over the previous two weeks over allegations of abuse at some certified impartial faculties, together with Legacy Christian Academy, in addition to for a number of the materials that has been taught at these faculties.
Former college students of Legacy mentioned they’d discovered from a biology textbook that said individuals and dinosaurs co-existed. It citied the Loch Ness Monster, which is a legendary creature, as proof dinosaurs exist right this moment.
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Loch Ness Monster teachings unacceptable in Sask. impartial faculties: NDP
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Whereas Duncan says it’s potential the impartial faculties weren’t absolutely following the curriculum previous to 2012, he mentioned the textbook is not closely used as a useful resource for certified impartial faculties.
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He instructed reporters on Tuesday there are a few chapters within the e book that aren’t thought-about problematic, together with ones that take care of genetics, photosynthesis and evolution.
He mentioned the ministry labored with certified impartial faculties in 2013 to make sure they had been following the curriculum.
Caitlin Erickson, who has filed a lawsuit with regard to alleged abuse at Legacy, has mentioned controversial teachings proceed to persist, noting most of the assets are listed on the Saskatchewan Affiliation of Unbiased Church Faculties (SAICS) web site.
Duncan mentioned he must have a look at the web site once more, however added the ministry has reviewed the workbooks being taught by faculties that observe SAICS.
“For probably the most half, apart from the faith-based components, I believe the ministry is comfy that the knowledge that’s within the workbooks and the knowledge that’s a part of the curriculum might probably be utilized in any faculty within the province,” he mentioned.
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He mentioned the Accelerated Christian Schooling workbooks that had been used previous to 2012 had been deemed unacceptable. The ministry labored with faculties to rewrite their workbooks to align them with the curriculum, he mentioned.
He famous the federal government doesn’t have a lot management over what’s being taught in registered impartial faculties, which don’t obtain authorities funding. He mentioned they don’t obtain the identical degree of oversight.
Nevertheless, Sarauer accused Duncan of not being harsh on the teachings.
“The Minister of Schooling refuses to confess the Loch Ness isn’t actual,” she quipped.
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