On October 22, the province announced a new ministerial directive to strengthen student safety and wellbeing.
To meet the requirements of assuring the safety of students and to ensure safe learning environments in the Island's public education system, the directive requires both la Commission scolaire de langue française (CSLF) and the Public Schools Branch (PSB) to immediately update or develop new human resource policies and procedures related to education staff employment. These policies will apply to existing and new staff as appropriate and must include, at a minimum, the following requirements:
- A satisfactory criminal record check prior to employment and updated criminal record checks on a rotational basis;
- A satisfactory vulnerable sector check prior to employment and updated criminal record check on a rotational basis;
- Employment checks;
- Annual offence declarations; and,
- Immediate disclosures.
"Students' role at school is to learn and grow, and our responsibility is to ensure that the learning environment is one that is safe and supportive," said Minister of Education and Early Years Robin Croucher. "This new ministerial directive is a necessary step in ensuring that policies and procedures clearly define requirements and expectations for those responsible for making employment decisions and for those working in our public school system. I am optimistic that this clarity will strengthen the safeguards we have in place to uphold safety in Island schools."
Both provincial education authorities will begin work on these policies and procedures immediately with full implementation required by September 1, 2026.
Learn more about this ministerial directive here.
