High school students entering Grade 10 in 2024 will have a few new requirements to meet before they graduate after the provincial government announced changes in November.
During the Prince Albert Catholic School Division board of education’s regular board meeting on Monday, Superintendent Wade Mourot updated the board on the requirements and updated trustees on the progress.
Director of education Lorel Trumier said administration wanted to ensure trustees had clarity as to what the secondary level program changes would be.
“The Ministry had announced some changes this spring, so we wanted to make sure there was clarity on the new framework for graduation requirements as well. We wanted to update them on some of the elements that had been added,” Trumier said.
The example that Trumier was most excited about was the new Financial Literacy 10 course.
“This has been a topic in this province for many years, and our board actually, in past years, have attended different sessions and different meetings to advocate for such a course,” she explained. “This really is also making sure that they understand that, yes, this has finally come to fruition.”
“It’s one of those courses that will have be very practical to students in the future,” she added.
Trumier adult financial literacy is a topic that is often discussed in her own family.
“I think that it will be very valuable course for our students,” she said. “The (resources) have been purchased in English and French, so our French Immersion students will also have that opportunity to it learn about it.”
The financial literacy course is being piloted in some school divisions across the province. The Prince Albert Catholic School Division will offer its first Financial Literacy 10 course in English second semester 2024-2025 and in French beginning in 2025-2026. According to Mourot’s, report the division is in the transitional phase.
In Social Sciences, new courses still in development including Social Studies 10, Native Studies 10 (with a name to be determined) and three options in Canadian Studies.
In English Language Arts, new curriculum is in development for ELA 10, 20 and 30 with one course in each of those levels.
“That makes a difference, too, for students as they’re acquiring their credits. We’re excited about social sciences and some of the changes that will happen there,” Trumier said.
“We know that is also long term in the running to change and to update and we’re looking forward to the refinements. Obviously, we don’t have anything per say, but we know the ministry is working to address that.”
A change to the number of required credits for English language arts (ELA), from five to three, with one requirement at each of the Grades 10, 11 and 12 levels will bring Saskatchewan into alignment with other provinces, including British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario, which all require three ELA credits to graduate.
Required credits for social sciences will change from three to two and will bring Saskatchewan into alignment with other jurisdictions. British Columbia and Manitoba each require two credits, while Ontario requires 1.5 credits.
The number of credits required to graduate has not changed. Saskatchewan students will still need 24 credits to graduate, but students will now have more choice and flexibility in how they achieve those 24 required credits. The number of required high school credits remains the same for all other subject areas.
“I think that’s the goal there is to certainly communicate to and then make sure there’s clarity for the board on these particular items,” Trumier said. “They’re good news elements that make an impact on students.”
michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca
