Education Expert says province's plan to scrap early French immersion doesn't go far enough

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SAINT JOHN - The province's decision to scrap early immersion and institute a universal French program beginning in Grade 5 is a step in the right direction, says education expert Doug Willms - but he would go even further.

Doug Wilms, director of the Canadian Research Institute for Social Policy, says universal French instruction would substantially boost student performance.

A key benefit of Education Minister Kelly Lamrock's plan is that it eliminates student streaming at an early age, said Willms, director of the Canadian Research Institute for Social Policy.

In a document released by the institute today, Willms lays out the case for universal French instruction, arguing it will substantially boost student performance by ending the practice of concentrating lower-ability children in core French classrooms.

The Telegraph-Journal obtained a copy of the document during an editorial board meeting with Willms last week.

But while the Lamrock plan will substantially chip away at the streaming problem, Willms says a more drastic overhaul would yield even better results.

"My vision would be a completely unstreamed system all the way until high school," he said.

Under Lamrock's plan, students in Grade 6 can choose to enter late immersion or post-intensive French.

Willms would remove that option and institute a universal program all the way through, until at least Grade 9, to ensure minimal segregation of students.

He'd also start the program in Grade 4 instead of 5 and incorporate elements of French instruction in kindergarten and Grades 1-3, acknowledging that as with all subjects, the earlier a student begins learning, the better.

Measuring and assessing results is also crucial to the success of any program, he added, but noted results of Lamrock's reforms won't be measurable for at least a decade.

At this point, he said, it's tough to judge the impact the new program will have on achievement rates.

"Is it the right plan?

"I don't know," Willms said.

"Certainly the plan we've got now isn't working."

Taken alone, he added, the elimination of early immersion will not solve the problem of New Brunswick's high illiteracy rates and poor performance on international testing.

The results from Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) testing - which measures reading literacy, math and science skills - have been consistently poor in the province.

In 2000, New Brunswick came dead last among all Canadian provinces.

In 2003, the province moved into ninth place, and in the last round of testing in 2006, New Brunswick was also at the rear of the pack.

In addition to the changes in French second language education, the province must renew its focus on quality teaching, adequate learning time and student engagement, Willms said.

"It's really fundamental in this system that the resources are in place so that we reduce the number of children who end up being struggling readers," he said. "The move to universal immersion has to go hand-in-hand with more resources in Grades kindergarten through 3."

Willms also recommended shuffling up programming in June, a time when teachers and students are tired and eager for the summer holidays.

Changes should be made to ensure schools make the most of that month, he said.

For example, students with a keen interest in science could take on a challenging new project, while students struggling with reading could use the time for a remedial literacy course.