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PRESS RELEASE: INCLUSIVE EDUCATION CANADA CONDEMNS EXPANSION OF SEGREGATED SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN SASKATCHEWAN


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NOVEMBER 28, 2024


REGINA, SK—On November 25, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Education, Everett Hindley, announced that the province’s controversial specialized support classroom pilot program will expand from 8 to 200 classrooms over the next four years. These specialized classrooms, which are designated solely for students exhibiting “disruptive behaviour,” are expected to disproportionately include students with disabilities. This expansion marks a troubling shift towards further segregating students with disabilities, effectively isolating them from their peers.


Dr. Gordon Porter, Director of Inclusive Education Canada and a leading advocate for inclusive education, expressed his deep disappointment in the government's decision: “The expansion of this segregated program directly contradicts the fundamental rights of children with disabilities to learn alongside their peers in inclusive environments. This move will only perpetuate the cycle of exclusion, limiting opportunities for students to learn, engage with diverse perspectives, and realize their full potential."


The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms provides robust protections against discrimination based on disability. Furthermore, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which Canada ratified in 2010, enshrines in Article 24 the right of individuals with disabilities to inclusive education. The Saskatchewan government's decision to expand segregated educational programs for children with disabilities contradicts both these national and international commitments, denying these children their fundamental right to inclusive education.


“The decision of the Government of Saskatchewan to expand its segregated Specialized Support Classroom Pilot for students with challenging behaviour from 8 to 200 is discriminatory and marks a significant step backward in the right to an inclusive education,” says Dr. Nadine Bartlett from the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba, “A 2023 report by the Fraser Institute on Education Spending in Canada from 2012/13-2020/21 revealed that Saskatchewan is one of only two provinces where education spending has declined. Scapegoating students with challenging behaviour as the source of the problem with education reinforces stigmatizing attitudes and beliefs towards disability.”


Inclusive education is a fundamental human right and a proven approach that benefits all students. Research consistently shows that students thrive when educated in inclusive environments, as these settings promote diversity, collaboration, and the development of essential social skills such as empathy and respect for others. In contrast, segregated education deprives students of valuable opportunities to learn from their peers, build friendships, and engage with the broader school community. Inclusive classrooms align with human rights principles and best educational practices, ensuring that every student, regardless of ability, has access to an education that fosters personal growth, social development, and academic success. Addressing these challenges head-on can help create learning environments where all students can thrive together.


"The minister asserts that if schools get kids with behavioural concerns out of the classroom, they can focus on teaching other students to read. This is simply short-sighted and reflects a superficial reaction to a challenge,” observes Dr. Jacqueline Specht, director of the Canadian Research Centre on Inclusive Education at Western University, “Rather than increasing support in classrooms for children with disabilities, we are segregating them.”


Inclusive Education Canada opposes expanding this segregated program. We call on the Government of Saskatchewan to reconsider this decision and work towards real solutions to support teachers and students regardless of ability. The legal and moral obligation to provide students with disabilities with the right to inclusive education must be a priority.


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Media Contact

Marc Muschler, Senior Communications Officer, Inclusion Canada

Email: mmuschler@inclusioncanada.ca


Inclusive Education Canada (IEC) provides leadership to parents, families, teachers, principals, and other stakeholders in the education system. We maintain a network of associates who provide advice and act as a resource for training and consulting activities. Inclusive Education Canada was officially launched as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) by Inclusion Canada during National Inclusive Education Week in February 2009.

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