CMEC commends the Commissioner of Official Languages for undertaking study on<br>second-language learning

TORONTO, Nov. 16 /CNW/ - Education ministers across Canada, through the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), collectively commended the Commissioner of Official Languages today for undertaking the study "Two Languages, A World of Opportunities: Second-Language Learning in Canada's Universities." The study, released in Ottawa on October 29, 2009, assesses the range of second-language learning programs and courses in Canada's universities, including opportunities for intensive second-language study.

"The Commissioner's study is a notable illustration of the importance of maintaining provinces' and territories' commitment to second-language life-long learning," said Minister Diane McGifford, Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy for Manitoba and Chair of CMEC. "Provinces and territories are continually striving to collaboratively improve the quality of minority-language education and second-language instruction at all levels of education."

In Learn Canada 2020, the joint framework that ministers of education are using to guide enhancements to Canada's education systems, ministers have identified official languages as a priority activity area and have committed to the objective of promoting and implementing support programs for minority-language education and second-language learning that are among the most comprehensive in the world.

The realization of these objectives is supported by the Protocol for Agreements for Minority-Language Education and Second-Language Instruction, a multi-year, bilateral agreement between the Government of Canada and CMEC. With regard to postsecondary education, the renewed 2009-13 protocol confirms the ongoing efforts of provincial and territorial ministers of education to maintain, develop, and enrich programs; to provide courses in the second language; to support second-language learning at the postsecondary level; and to improve access to second-language postsecondary programs.

"The renewed protocol demonstrates the collaborative efforts of ministers of education to offer a wider range of second-language learning programs and to ensure that all students in Canada have improved access to such programs at all levels of education," said Minister McGifford.

CMEC is an intergovernmental body composed of the ministers responsible for elementary, secondary, and advanced education from the provinces and territories. Through CMEC, ministers share information and undertake projects in areas of mutual interest and concern.

For further information: Jean-Gilles Pelletier, Director, Administration, communications, and official languages, Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), Tel.: [phone], ext. 272, E-mail: [email protected], www.cmec.ca