Ontario Principals' Council partners with China to deliver training for
school leaders

TORONTO , Feb. 9 /CNW/ - The Ontario Principals' Council (OPC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Jiangsu International Foundation for Education Excellence (JIFEE) to deliver professional development training to school leaders in Jiangsu Province in the People's Republic of China . This follows similar cooperative ventures for the training of school leaders with which OPC has been involved in Sri Lanka , Egypt , Kuwait , the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands .

The MOU will provide for

    
    -   cooperation in the training of school leaders,
    -   an information exchange and support between schools in Jiangsu
        Province and schools in Ontario,
    -   collaboration in the recruitment of students from Jiangsu Province to
        potentially study at schools in Ontario and
    -   the establishment of annual education forums for school leaders from
        both provinces.
    

"The JIFEE is looking forward to working with the OPC in the delivery of quality learning for our school leaders," said Dr. Wang Bintai , former Minister of Education for Jiangsu Province and Chair of the Foundation. "We have been pleased to host members of the Ontario government several times in the past few years on trade and education missions, and this is another opportunity to work closely with Ontario, our sister province in Canada ."

"We are excited to have the opportunity to work with Jiangsu in the training of school leaders in the pursuit of quality education for students," said Doug Morrell , President of the Ontario Principals' Council. "This is another example of the high regard in which our association is held, both in Canada and internationally, for the ongoing professional supports that are so important for school leaders."

The Ontario Principals' Council is the professional association representing over 5,000 principals and vice-principals in the province's public elementary and secondary schools. Established in 1998, the OPC advocates on behalf of public education and provides professional supports to its Members. The OPC will host the 10th International Confederation of Principals (ICP) World Convention in Toronto , Canada , in August 2011 .

For further information: Peggy Sweeney, Senior Communications Consultant, Ontario Principals' Council, [phone]