Nova Scotia Overview

Education & Early Childhood Development

What is Education & Early Childhood Development (EECD)?

Sources

Public schools in Nova Scotia are governed by the provincial Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD). The role of the Department is to:

  •  ensure children in their early years have the support they need for a positive start to school
  •  ensure students benefit from a quality primary to grade 12 education so they are well-prepared to graduate to the workforce or post-secondary education
  • work with teachers, regional centres, community partners and many others to achieve its goal to increase overall student achievement and success. (See Source 1)

Vision of EECD

Every child and student is confident and proud, maximizing their potential and contributing to a thriving society.

Mission of EECD

The Department will lead the transformation of the early years and public education system.  We will do this by designing an innovative curriculum, facilitating excellence in teaching and learning, ensuring equity throughout the system and fostering collaborative partnerships.  This will provide children, students and families with a strong foundation for success.

Values of EECD

InnovationEquityCollaborationResponsivenessExcellence

Mandate of EECD

EECD has a broad mandate that includes:

  1. Early childhood development
  2. Education of children and youth through the public school system

This is carried out through the arrangement of:

  • child, youth and family-centered programs and services
  • early learning and care programs for children from birth to entering school
  • high quality educational programs and student services in both of Canada’s official languages
  • strong assessment and evaluation services
  • a focus on creating a more culturally-responsive education system to support inclusive student learning
  • a forward-thinking and responsive policy environment
  • effective financial management, facilities planning and managerial accounting
  • effective opportunities for ongoing, high-quality professional learning for teachers and principals Mandate. (See Source 2)

Public Poll

Education Action Plan

Visit EECD's Education Action Plan Page to see reports, reviews, guides, strategies and standards on different areas of education.

One example of a province-wide document is the Province-wide Code of Conduct. In September 2015, a Provincial School Code of Conduct policy was introduced into the public school system to ensure consistency across the province. It outlines clear standards for student behaviour.

See below for a video about Province-wide Code of Conduct.

  • Source

    Source 1: Education and Early Childhood Development Website

    EECD's Inside the Department website page.

  • Source

    Source 2: Education and Early Childhood Development Website

    EECD's Core Principles website page.