The Government of Saskatchewan announced that they are changing the high school graduation requirements in the province to provide students with more choice and flexibility in their education.

These changes will be implemented in the 2024-25 school year and will affect students entering Grade 10 in September 2024:

• a new credit requirement at the high school level for a course that focuses on financial literacy;
• a change in the number of required credits for English language arts (ELA);
• a change in the number of required credits for social sciences and
• an increase in the number of electives students require to graduate.

The changes are based on insight and recommendations from the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, League of Educational Administrators, Directors and Superintendents, First Nation Education Authorities, post-secondary institutions, various Chambers of Commerce, and parents.

The feedback suggested that students require additional credit flexibility to learn subjects they are passionate about to help them successfully enter the workforce.

Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill said more choice for students is better for their learning.

“Allowing students more personal choice in their learning to better prepare them for their futures and getting Saskatchewan back to basics is a positive step forward,” he said. “We have heard from the education sector that students need to be prepared for a rapidly changing labour market by focusing on the development of transferrable skills in areas such as financial literacy.”

The new grade 10 Financial Literacy credit will provide the building blocks for students to understand personal finance and the economy.

Required credits for social sciences will change from three to two, aligning Saskatchewan with other jurisdictions. British Columbia and Manitoba each require two credits, while Ontario requires 1.5 credits.

The Government notes that the number of credits required to graduate has not changed, but students will now have more choice and flexibility in achieving those 24 required credits.