Submitted
The Chinese Ministry of Education recently invited representatives from Alberta to participate in an Education Leadership Mission in China from November 9-17.
A total of 20 school superintendents and principals representing five school divisions from across the province travelled to China, including four delegates from Wolf Creek Public Schools. Wolf Creek delegates included superintendent Dr. Larry Jacobs, assistant superintendent Amber Hester, principal Tim Lekas from Rimbey Jr/Sr High School and principal Lane Moore from Bentley School.
The purpose of the delegation was to initiate a reciprocal exchange program to allow leaders from China and Alberta opportunity to explore education transformation, exchange ideas, deepen mutual understanding and promote exchanges and cooperation on leadership capacity building, curriculum building, teacher training, examination reforms and other issues related to education transformation.
The first half of the visit took place in Guangzhou, a city of 17 million people in southern China. This began with a meeting with senior government officials, to discuss how our province is moving ahead with Inspiring Education. The Wolf Creek portion of the Alberta presentation was on the topic of high performing schools. We also received presentations from several Chinese officials, and one school Principal. Other official events during the stay in Guangzhou included a meeting and tour of the Teacher Preparation University, a tour of an elementary school, a high school and a middle school, with excellent discussions experienced at each venue.
The group then travelled to Beijing where they met with the Chinese Minister of Education to talk about curriculum, school structures, teacher training, and school reform. They then met with officials at the national examination center. The last official event was a kindergarten tour.
The expectation is that a Chinese delegation will pay a return visit in the new year, to see firsthand the work being done in our province as we move forward with educational changes.