The current educational system has achieved the mandate it was given - the mandate has now been changed, and so the paradigm must change. To be effective, the process of change needs to be widely inclusive of people and groups across Canada. It must engage people's energies and ideas. From inception, effective change initiatives consider how to sustain their benefits for the long-term, and how to work collaboratively rather than in isolation. The focus of collective work on changing the learning environment in Canada should be on the public interest rather than special interests, and on the collective good as well as the individual good.
Ongoing assessment is an essential component of programs for change.
Goals should be clearly set, data collected, and results shared publicly. Change must start before formal education, with families and communities, which must provide a supportive learning environment for children and adults. As the economy grows, the wealth of flexible learning options must also expand and be shared as a social imperative. Canadian researchers and practitioners are linked and best practices are developed and adopted. Educators and trainers have access to all we know about learning so they can apply the knowledge and tools effectively.