REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Education Critic Matt Love proposed an amendment to the Sask. Party government’s Bill 137. The amendment would have created a Parental Engagement Strategy. The Sask. Party voted against it.
“I’m extremely disappointed that the Moe government is continuing to keep parents in the dark,” said Love. “The government has a duty to listen to all parents. As a teacher, I know from experience that our kids do best when parents are involved.”
Had the Moe government voted “yes” to Love’s amendment, a formal Parental Engagement Strategy to get parents more involved in their kids' education would have been established within one year of Bill 137 coming into force.
The Parental Engagement Strategy would, by law, have been developed in consultation with parents, teachers, school community councils, and school divisions.
The strategy, after coming into effect, would have been reviewed on an annual basis, also in consultation with parents, teachers, school community councils, and school divisions.
“I’ve heard from parents across the province who say that many of their biggest concerns are falling on deaf ears. Really basic issues like class sizes and conditions, mental health supports, and lunchroom fees just don’t seem like a priority for this government,” said Love. “They even ignored a 200-parent petition simply asking that a hole in the school roof be fixed months ago.”
While the Premier and the Minister of Education have yet to give specifics about any parental engagement or consultation undertaken for their controversial pronoun policy, the Sask. Party government’s legal team stated under oath that the policy was composed in nine days and informed by 18 letters, seven of which were from parents.
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