Government of News Release

May 29, 1996 "We must ensure that students are well prepared for workplace and career opportunities now and in the future. This framework will guide us toward this goal as we take immediate steps and plan long-term initiatives to ensure that business and educators work closely to expand workplace learning and improve career education."

Halvar Jonson Education Minister EDUCATION MINISTER RELEASES FRAMEWORK FOR ENHANCING BUSINESS INVOLVEMENT IN EDUCATION

Two years of research and consultation with Albertans have culminated in the release of a framework for government direction and action to enhance business involvement in education. "This report is based on the work of the MLA Implementation Team on Business Involvement and Technology Integration in Education chaired by Denis Herard, MLA for -Egmont, and including Hung Pham, MLA for Calgary-Montrose," said Education Minister . The seven projects detailed in the framework commit the government to: creating community structures to encourage and co-ordinate business-education partnerships, promoting workplace learning, encouraging youth apprenticeships, enhancing lifelong career education, reviewing school programs and standards to ensure that students develop employability skills, developing credentials that recognize workplace learning and skills, and providing legislative and policy support to enhance business involvement in education.

"We will take some steps immediately and will pursue additional projects as the required resources are made available during our annual budget planning processes between now and the year 2000," said Jonson. "Since March 1994 our MLA Implementation Team has established and worked closely with a 16 member Business Involvement Advisory Group, received advice from almost 1,000 Albertans about the ways in which business and schools could work together to provide the best possible education for our young people, commissioned and reviewed a school business partnership survey, conducted a forum with 140 Albertans to review our draft recommendations and submitted our report to the Minister," said Denis Herard. "I believe that this framework not only reflects our work with the Business Involvement Advisory Group and other Albertans, it will indeed help our young people obtain the skills they need for the opportunities and challenges of the global economy." Copies of the Framework for Enhancing Business Involvement in Education are available from Alberta Education at 427-2984. Albertans from outside the Edmonton area may call toll free by dialling 310-0000. The Framework is also on the Education in Alberta website. For more information:

Robb Stoddard Nancy Saul-Demers Keith Wagner Robb Stoddard Nancy Saul-Demers Keith Wagner Minister's Office Communications Director, Curriculum Executive Assistant Alberta Education Alberta Education (403) 427-2025 (403) 427-2285 (403) 427-2984

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