Toronto, ON, August 20, 2008 – The Toronto District School Board has been awarded the prestigious Carl Bertelsmann Prize for its outstanding commitment to equity in education.
The Carl Bertelsmann Prize honours innovative ideas and exemplary solutions to pressing social issues. The 150,000 EU ($235,500.00 CDN.) prize is awarded annually. Its mandate is to ‘go beyond what we know’ and learn from the best in the world.
The central theme of this year’s Prize is “Integration Through Education – Fairness For All” which focused on highlighting exceptional examples of how immigrant children can be given fair opportunities for their education and how this can assist in their successful integration in the host country.
“The Toronto school system is an example of how we can address the challenges of globalization, migration and demographic change,” said Dr. Johannes Meier, a member of the Bertelsmann Foundation Executive Board. “Germany is also a country of immigration, yet it has not completely understood how this impacts its education system. In Germany, student attainment still strongly correlates with the social background and ethnic origin of students. In this respect we can learn from Canada and especially from Toronto.”
After an exhaustive international selection process that examined programs in 10 countries relating to the theme of this year’s prize, the TDSB beat out contenders from a short list that included England, Switzerland and Sweden.
“I am exhilarated and honoured by this recognition of the Bertelsmann Foundation.” said Director of Education, Gerry Connelly. “This prize reinforces and reflects the Toronto District School Board’s commitment to diverse, innovative and creative approaches to education. This helps to level the playing field and contributes to the well being and academic success of all our students through programs like our Inner City Model Schools or our Family Literacy and International Language programs. We hope to use the monetary prize to stimulate a continuous dialogue around equity and diversity and help build expertise in this area and focus it on student success.”
The award ceremony will be held in Gutersloh, Germany on September 4, 2008. Gerry Connelly, Board of Trustees Chair, John Campbell and Executive Officer of Student and Community Equity, Lloyd McKell will be on hand to accept the award on behalf of the TDSB.
For more information or interviews, please contact:
May Moore,
Communications Officer
Toronto District School Board
416-397-3241
may.moore@tdsb.on.ca
See more about the Bertelsmann Prize here:
Interview with Executive Officer of Student and Community Equity, Lloyd McKell
Photo Gallery of TDSB schools