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Finance Minister, Paul Dicks reacts to statements by M.P. George Baker 
on teacher reductions.

The Minister of Finance, Paul Dicks has reacted to a statement today by M.P. George Baker that 200 teachers will be laid off on May 7 in addition to the reduction of 468 previously announced by the Minister of Education.

Mr Baker has stated that administrators have been advised that "200 teachers can expect pink slips on May 7 in addition to government's original numbers of 468." Mr. Dicks said: "This is completely false. As the NLTA stated earlier today the announcement by Mr. Baker of an additional 200 teachers losing their jobs in the next couple of months is not consistent with the teacher allocations for 1997 - 98. The reduction in the number of teachers was announced by the Minister of Education some time ago. That number was 468 and remains at 468. There will be no further reduction in the number of teachers this year."

Mr. Dicks stated that these statements by Mr. Baker quoting unnamed sources are completely unfounded and are irresponsible at a time when teachers and their families are trying to deal with the personal uncertainties of job security and school closures.

Mr. Dicks said: "The reduction of 468 teachers is a result of enrolment decline of approximately 4200 students, the final year of the phase out of the two per cent cap on the reduction of teacher units, which had previously been in the teachers' collective agreement, and the removal of 68 program coordinator units which resulted in the reduction of the number of school districts from 27 to 10. Although these units had been removed last year, school boards had been allowed to retain them as classroom teachers for this year."

Although the reduction in the number of teachers is 468, Mr. Dicks indicated that the number of actual layoffs is expected to be considerably less since many teachers will retire at the end of the current school year.

Mr. Dicks noted that Roger Grimes, Minister of Education when speaking at the recent annual convention of the NLTA announced that, in future years, the decline in the number of teachers will be allowed to track the decline in student population. Mr Grimes also noted that, even with the reduction in the number of teachers, the student teacher ratio in this province will remain the second lowest in Canada.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dicks says that he is amazed that Mr. Baker has recommended that government put education reform on hold for another year to allow for public consultation. "I would remind Mr. Baker that the present reforms to the education system were recommended by a Royal Commission which held extensive consultations with the public throughout the province and presented its report to government in March, 1992. Education reforms were also the subject of considerable public debate as part of the referendum on amending Term 17, which was held in September, 1995. They were also the subject of discussion during public consultations which were held by the Minister of Education, throughout the province in September 1996. Government has consulted extensively during each phase of the reform process - we must move ahead."

Mr. Dicks said: "Government has been proceeding with its plans to reform the education system in an orderly and reasonable manner since receiving the report of the royal Commission four years ago. The number of school boards has been reduced from 27 uni-denominational school boards to 10 interdenominational school boards. The next step is to implement reform at the school level, this will include a consolidation of resources and removal of duplication of services which was characteristic of the old uni-denominational system. We must continue along this path in an orderly fashion in order to provide the best educational opportunities for our children."

Contact: Carl Cooper, (709) 729-0048, or Paul Dicks (709) 729-2858.