Ottawa Board of Education (OBE) and OCISO, was initiated in September 1991. The pilot project initially involved 15 elementary schools, each staffed with a half-time Multicultural Liaison Officer (MLO) employed by OCISO. The MLOs collectively spoke in 18 languages.
The project objectives are: 1. To assist immigrant students adapt to their new environment and benefit fully from the educational system 2. To facilitate the involvement of parents in their children’s education 3. To provide cross-cultural sensitization to the school staff to enhance their effectiveness in teaching immigrant students 4. To assist in the implementation of the OBE’s Multicultural Plan and the development of race relation strategies 5. To facilitate immigrant parents’ settlement.
