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March 22, 2000
(Education)
 

Government adding back in excess of 300 teachers in September 2000

"I am pleased to announce that government will be adding back over 300 teachers to the system in September 2000," said Education Minister Judy Foote today.

Under the current allocation formula 408 teachers would have been removed from the system in September 2000. The Ministerial Panel on the Delivery of Education in the Classroom was established to review, among other things, the current method of allocating teachers and to put forward recommendations for a new allocation system based on programs.

"While the final report of the panel has not yet been received, recommendations which have budgetary implications have been discussed with the panel. Dr. Ron Sparkes and Dr. Len Williams advise me that they will recommend a new framework that, despite significant decline in student enrolment, will result in a reduction of fewer than 80 teachers in September 2000," said Minister Foote.

Under this new system, which will ensure that in future a core program is offered in all schools throughout the province, the number of teachers will track enrolment in subsequent years.

"While it is projected the four per cent annual rate of decline in student enrolment will continue for the 2000/2001 school year, the number of teachers will be reduced by only 1.2 per cent," added Minister Foote.

The pupil-teacher ratio in this province is currently the best in the country at 14.3 students for every teacher. The Canadian average in the most recently published 1997/1998 data was 16

students for every teacher. The ratio for our Atlantic counterparts ranged from 16.9 to 17.3 students for every teacher. In September 2000, the ratio in this province will further improve to approximately 13.9 students for every teacher.

"The total reinvestment in teaching services for September 2000 will be more than $15 million, bringing the total salaries budget for teaching services to almost half of the total education budget. The ministerial panel was put in place last year because we recognized the need to focus our attention on the classroom and we committed, at that time, to begin implementing the panel�s recommendations in the 2000/2001 school year. Today�s announcement makes it clear that we are keeping, and renewing our commitment to ensuring that students of this province have access to quality education," said Minister Foote.

Media contact: Andrea Maunder, Communications, (709) 729-0048.

2000 03 22 


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