The government of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, located in western Canada, announced on Monday that Holocaust education will be a compulsory component of the high school curriculum in the province.
"Antisemitism, unfortunately, is a prejudice that remains a problem in Canada," Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill said.
"Knowledge of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust is important for our youth as it helps reduce hate and discrimination in society," he added.
The renewed Social Studies 10 curriculum in Saskatchewan is expected to be introduced to high school students for the 2025-26 school year.
The province said that curriculum renewal and implementation process will involve teachers and other content experts. The Ministry of Education will work with the Jewish community for their input into the content, it added.
Jewish groups welcomed the move. Shimon Koffler Fogel, President and CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), said, “Combating hate begins with education. The safety of the Jewish community is supported by the understanding of what Never Again truly means. This is a significant step by the government of Saskatchewan to ensure children in the province grow up knowing what the Holocaust was, how it affected Jews across the world, and how important it is never to forget the lesson that hate can corrupt society, which the world learned from this tragic chapter of our history.”
“At a time when the Jewish community is encountering what, for many, is the worst antisemitism of their life, we applaud the understanding of this lived experience and the support shown today by the Government of Saskatchewan. Educating people about how antisemitism manifests itself, its various impacts, and the tools needed to combat it are essential for stopping its spread. Holocaust education is a large part of that.”
“We know that much hate is born from ignorance, so we are encouraged that four provinces have recognized Holocaust education as a vital tool in stamping out hate. We hope that the governments of the remaining provinces will follow the leadership shown by Saskatchewan and others and add mandatory Holocaust education to their respective school curricula.”
Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) said it applauds the Government of Saskatchewan for announcing mandatory Holocaust education in high schools.
“This is an incredibly commendable step taken by the Government of Saskatchewan and its Ministry of Education, which comes at a critical time of surging antisemitism across the country,” said FSWC President and CEO Michael Levitt. “As we see a rise in Holocaust denial and distortion, it’s important that young people learn about this tragic chapter in history so they can better understand the danger of hate left unchecked and be inspired to stand up against it.”
With Monday’s announcement, Saskatchewan joins a number of other provinces that previously announced mandatory Holocaust education for students, including Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.