Media Contacts

Media Relations

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963

Backgrounders

Backgrounder

The Ministry of Education has developed a multi-year provincial curriculum, assessment and reporting implementation strategy to bring the modernized education system to life.

New Curriculum

  • With the new curriculum being implemented, what and how will students learn?

    The world is changing and it’s our duty to make sure kids are ready to succeed in that changing world. That is why we are bringing in a new curriculum to B.C. schools.

    Students will learn the basics of reading, writing and math in a way that connects them with the collaboration, critical thinking, and communications skills they’ll need to succeed after high school.

    The new curriculum is focused 100% on students and will prepare students for success through personalized learning.

    New Kindergarten to Grade 9 curriculum will be fully implemented in classrooms in fall 2016. Draft curriculum for grades 10 to 12 is ready for teachers to use in classrooms in the 2016-17 school year and will be fully implemented in 2017-18.

Assessment and Reporting

  • How will we measure student success?

    Assessment practices need to be streamlined with the new curriculum.

    Starting in the 2016-17 school year, instead of five provincial exams required from grades 10 to 12, students will complete provincial assessments focused on math skills and literacy. The rest of the assessments will be done in class. Teachers are in the best position to evaluate their students and report cards will continue to be issued.

    The new reporting structure aligned with the new curriculum will be designed to better meet the needs of parents and students and, like the new curriculum itself, it is more flexible and adaptable to the individual needs of the student.

    The Government of B.C. invites the public to give feedback on what they want to see changed in formal and informal reports. Parent engagement will begin in Fall 2016.

Path to Graduation

  • How will the new curriculum prepare students for the future?

    The future our children must succeed in is different from the one we envisioned even 10 or 15 years ago. It is our job to prepare all children for success in whatever life path they choose.

    Under new curriculum, the path to graduation is more flexible. The grad program still spans Grades 10, 11, and 12, but a student’s path to their Dogwood may be more varied and flexible than before. Teachers and students will now have more opportunity to explore learning outside of the classroom and build on each student’s potential. To graduate, students will still need to complete 80 credits. That hasn’t changed.

    The new curriculum aims to connect students with the skills they need to succeed in their next chapter. That’s why, starting in the 2017-18 school year, every student will have to take Career Education to graduate. What they learn will show them the link between the classroom and their opportunities in life.

    Post-secondary institutions have been consulted to ensure the changes we are making to curriculum, assessments and the grad program maintain a seamless path to education beyond high school.