Submitted by Doug Lacey, Director of Learning for School District No. 51 (Boundary)
British Columbia’s education system is in the midst of a transformation as it prepares our young people for a rapidly changing world and workplace.
Intensive work has been in progress over several years to redesign the curriculum to include more variation, flexibility and real-life experiences to better prepare students for this future.
For the first time since 2004, the Ministry of Education is revising graduation requirements to reflect the need for students to take more ownership of their learning and make stronger connections between their learning, personal interests and future.
To this end, all students graduating in 2020 and beyond will be required to complete two “four-credit” Career Education courses to be taken between the Grades of 10 and 12.
Career Life Education will offer students opportunities to develop personal interests and competencies. Students will also explore learning opportunities and post-graduation options.
Career Life Connections will give students the opportunity to participate in career-related explorations, such as work experience, service learning, fieldwork projects, and entrepreneurship. These experiences are important for preparing students by giving students the chance to pursue their personal passions and further engage with the broader community.
This is in line with the B.C. Ministry of Education transformation of the entire Kindergarten to Grade 12 curriculum to focus on deeper, and more personally relevant learning. The new focus on “core competencies”includes the ability of students to think critically and creatively, communicate effectively, and to develop a positive sense of personal, social, and cultural responsibility.
Building strong foundational skills in literacy and numeracy will continue to be cornerstones of the B.C. education system. All graduating students will be required to complete provincial numeracy and literacy assessments. These assessments will measure foundational reading, writing and math proficiencies of each student, as well as their critical thinking abilities. Students’ graduation transcripts will indicate the level of their proficiencies in both literacy and numeracy.
As in the 2004 B.C. graduation program, students will still be required to complete 80 credits of coursework from Grade 10 to 12 in all curriculum areas including English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, art education, skills and technologies, career education, and physical and health education.
These rigorous graduation requirements will ensure students are graduating from high school with the knowledge and competencies they’ll need to transition successfully into higher education, training, or the workforce, and become educated, socially and culturally aware citizens.