Education Minister Mike Bernier and Curriculum

: Those passions will then be harnessed by teachers and used to keep students interested in learning the core skills, like reading, writing and arithmetic, required for future success, he said. "We need to have some flexibility to ensure that all of our children are getting the basics and the skills they need," said Bernier, according to CTV. The curriculum will also build the critical thinking, collaboration and communication skills vital for higher education and the workforce, he said. Education Minister Mike Bernier said Tuesday the curriculum, set for phased-in introduction this year, hopes to identify individual students' passions and what makes them tick. It will offer aboriginal perspectives at all grade levels, including an examination of the residential school system, and examine the history of South Asian and Chinese immigrants, including the Chinese Head Tax. Bernier said school districts and teachers have the option this year to implement the new kindergarten-to-Grade-9 curriculum on a partial or complete basis, although it must be fully introduced next year. Kindergarten-to-Grade 9 students will get the first taste of the new curriculum this fall in what is being billed as a transition approach to the program. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.