(Bracebridge)  Steven Hepburn, a student at Almaguin Highlands has been selected from students across the province to provide advice to the Minister of Education on a variety of topics regarding the publicly funded education system.   Known as the Minister’s Student Advisory Council, the council will meet several times a year to provide advice and ideas to the Minister.

“I am very pleased to congratulate Stephen Hepburn on being selected to participate on the Council,” said Norm Miller.  “This is an exciting opportunity to participate in decision making that directly impacts students.”

This advisory council is one part of Student Voice, the government’s Student Engagement Strategy.  Other components include:

·        Student-led SpeakUp projects developed to help students get more engaged in learning and their school community.

·        Regional forums that provide an opportunity for students to give the ministry feedback on a variety of education topics.

·        Stronger student councils that work more actively with their faculty advisors on school initiatives to improve student engagement and become more inclusive.

 The 60 students on the advisory council are in grades 7 to 12, and come from all parts of the education system (English/French, Public/Catholic) and regions of the province.

Almost 1,000 students across Ontario applied to be part of the Minister’s Student Advisory Council.

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