History of the Acadian and Francophone Education System
Taking the Next Step is the most recent part of a long-term initiative to improve access to quality education in French for the population of New Brunswick.
Overview:
1784 – The province of New Brunswick is founded. At this point in time, there is no structured education system. Only a few privately run schools offer education in French.
1802 to 1870 – Gradual foundation of a public education system. Government provides financial assistance to teachers, builds schools, and forms administrative councils.
1847 – The provincial government passes legislation requiring the establishment of a Board of Education (Education bureau).
1858 – A new law, the Parish Schools Act (1858), supplants the previous legislation and entrusts the running of schools to the Board of Education.
1871 – The Common Schools Act is adopted. This legislation affirms that education is free, establishes a non-denominational school system and divides the province into school districts. Catholic and Irish families send their children to public schools.
1932 - The MacFarlane Commission report recommends that elementary school instruction be given in the children’s mother tongue.
Early 1940 – The first Francophone official in charge of the Acadian and Francophone population is named. New secondary schools are built in rural communities.
1960 – Louis-J. Robichaud comes to power and introduces his Equal Opportunity Program promoting the redistribution of wealth and the establishment of equal standards for all citizens.
1963 – Louis-J. Robichaud sets up the Byrne-Boudreau Royal Commission, which proposes a radical reorganization of the school system. Two deputy ministers, one of whom is Francophone, are appointed. The school districts are reduced in number. Even though the Equal Opportunity Program rectifies inequalities, it does not address the issue of language of instruction.
1963 – Université de Moncton is founded.
1972 – Université de Moncton’s Faculty of Education is established.
1973 – A Francophone education services sector is established in the Department of Education.
1979 – An education system based on the language of instruction is instituted, as recommended by the Finn-Elliot Committee. This puts an end to bilingual schools and classrooms and establishes two parallel, homogenous school networks.
1981 – The Act recognizing the equality of the two official linguistic communities of New Brunswick is established.
1982 – Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the right to education in the minority language.
1992 – The Landry-Downey report, issued by the Commission on Excellence in Education, gives rise to major changes, including the decentralization of powers towards schools.
2003 – Publication of the Quality Learning Agenda.
2007 – Publication of When kids come first and Inclusive Education: A review of Programming and Services in New Brunswick.
2008 – Education Minister Kelly Lamrock creates the Commission on Francophone Schools named Bâtissons ensemble la meilleure école pour nos enfants, lead by Gino LeBlanc.
2009 – Publication of Education in Acadian New Brunswick: A path to cultural and linguistic self-sufficiency.
The Action Group for the Commission on Francophone Schools (AGCFS) is established.
Launch of the Global Strategy for the Integration of Arts and Culture into Acadian Society in New Brunswick, which was developed under the framework of the États généraux on arts and culture in Acadian society in New Brunswick.
2014 – The Linguistic and Cultural Development Policy is established.
2016 – The movement Taking the Next Step is launched and two 10-year plans, entitled Everyone at their best for the Anglophone sector and Donnons à nos enfants une longueur d’avance for the Francophone sector, are published.
