REGINA -- The Re-Imagine Education Reference Committee has released its report with recommendations for how to amend issues within the provincial education system.

The 12 recommendations include: equipping schools with adequate staff and learning resources, establishing a provincial council of education independent of politics and developing school division policies in collaboration with school staff, parents and students.

As a Mother and grandmother, Monica Kreuger knows how challenging it can be for some to learn in the public school system.

“Two of our four children struggled through school, despite our attempts to support them. And my husband barely made it through grade twelve,” Kreuger said. “We, ourselves, run a post-secondary school for entrepreneurs. And I would say that at least half of the people that come into our program are people who struggled through school.”

Kreuger is a part of the Re-Imagine Education Reference Committee.

“One of the big takeaways for the reference committee was the desire to shine a light on the need for community voice and public input into decision making,” said Randy Schmaltz, the executive director of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, and chair of the Re-Imagine Education Reference Committee.

The recommendations are based on a survey 6,000 people across the province. The group held consultations in 204 schools in 69 Saskatchewan communities.

“It has been more than 30 years since there was a comprehensive review of public education with significant public input“, said Randy Schmaltz, Chair, Re-Imagine Education Reference Committee. “These actions are the voice of the public, and the public is calling for action today in order to create the public education system Saskatchewan needs and deserves.”

Minister of Education, Gordon Wyant, said the ministry is working on a new provincial education plan for the next ten years, and the Re-Imagine Education findings will be considered in the plan.

“I'm looking forward to reading the full text of the report and having conversations with our partners in education - including the STF - to see how the recommendations that are being brought forward through this report can align with the work that's being done with the ministry,” said Wyant.

The government hopes to implement the new provincial education plan by the fall of 2020.

To read the 12 recommendations, click here.