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Education
March 1, 2013

Opposition Comments Inaccurate – Again: Minister

The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Education, today corrected yet another inaccurate statement issued by the Opposition Education Critic, this time with respect to the future structure of school boards in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"At no time have I said any particular school boards 'should' amalgamate, as the Opposition Education Critic has stated," said Minister Jackman. "What I have said is that we have had preliminary discussions with all school boards with a view to finding efficiencies and streamlining operations in response to a significant forecasted deficit. All options to achieve that goal, without negatively impacting student learning, are being considered. For the Opposition Critic to once again issue a formal statement which misrepresents the facts, and attributes comments to me that I did not make, can only be a deliberate attempt to mislead the people of Newfoundland and Labrador."

Minister Jackman noted student enrolment has declined by almost 14,000 students since 2004 when 11 school boards were consolidated into five.

"Given this demographic reality, it is prudent to re-examine all of the educational supports we have in place to ensure we are spending taxpayers' dollars appropriately," said Minister Jackman. "For the Opposition Critic to suggest we now need even more school board administration in some areas is not realistic and demonstrates an appalling lack of understanding of educational priorities in this province."

Minister Jackman said the Opposition Critic's statement is just the latest in a series of public comments and formal statements which have presented false information to the public on education issues ranging from busing (www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2012/servicenl/1122n11.htm), student performance, and student response to a 2011 School Climate Survey (www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2013/edu/0207n04.htm), among others.

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Media contact:
Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca 

2013 03 01                            3:10 p.m.

 
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