Beck: Education Budget smokescreen hides cut to classrooms

REGINA - New Democratic Party Education Critic Carla Beck criticized the government for fudging the budget numbers and hiding what amounts to a cut to the classroom in Budget 2021.

“Saskatchewan classrooms were overcrowded and under-funded before COVID-19 and the Sask. Party’s failure to contain the pandemic when they had the chance has put our kids in an even tougher spot,” said Beck. “That the Sask. Party government would choose this year - of all years - to cut funding to our classrooms is a shocking betrayal of Saskatchewan kids, families and educators.”

In yesterday’s Education Budget release, the government states: “Saskatchewan's 27 school divisions will receive $1.96 billion in school operating funding for the 2021-22 school year, an increase of $19.2 million. This includes fully funding the 2.0 per cent salary increase as part of the Teachers' Collective Bargaining Agreement”.

What the government fails to acknowledge is that the fairly bargained commitment to teachers amounts to $23 million. Meaning that in actuality the school operating funding for 2021-22 cuts funding by $3.8 million. In a release in response to the provincial budget yesterday, the Saskatchewan School Boards Association states: “It’s important to note though that other inflationary costs are not covered in the increase and therefore school divisions may have difficult decisions to make.”

“This kind of smokescreen by the government and the Minister of Education does a disservice to the school communities and teachers who have worked so hard this past year to give our kids the best education possible in trying times,” said Beck. “The government must immediately reverse this decision and institute a true funding increase, over and above the new contract that the government had to be dragged into signing.”

-30-

Latest posts

SCOTT MOE’S HEALTHCARE DISASTER WORSENS AS SURVEY FINDS SASKATCHEWAN PEOPLE STRUGGLE MOST TO FIND DOCTOR, NOT CONFIDENT IN EMERGENCY CARE

Nearly Two-Thirds Have No Or Little Access To Primary Care, Have No Confidence In Emergency Care
SASKATOON – Shocking new data released Thursday morning found nearly two-thirds of Saskatchewan people have no or limited access to a doctor — the worst rate in Canada — and the same number are not confident they would receive timely care in the event of an emergency.

CARLA BECK TALKS TO YOUNG AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS ABOUT BUILDING A FUTURE IN SASKATCHEWAN

Saskatchewan NDP Leader Touts New Project To Deliver Change For Young People At YourFutureYourSay.ca

SASKATOON – Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck spent the morning Thursday speaking with young agricultural producers about building their careers, businesses, and raising their families right here in Saskatchewan.

SCOTT MOE FAILS TO ADDRESS MASSIVE CRIME WAVE IN PRINCE ALBERT

Violent Crimes rises 10% While Failing Premier Sits On His Hands

PRINCE ALBERT – The Saskatchewan NDP is demanding that Scott Moe and Public Safety Minister Michael Weger step in with emergency action to address the shocking levels of crime in Prince Albert.

SASKATCHEWAN NDP LAUNCHES ‘YOUR FUTURE, YOUR SAY’ PROJECT FOCUSED ON KEEPING YOUNG PEOPLE IN SASKATCHEWAN

Provincial Population Declining For First Time In 20 Years As Young People Flee Province Amid Cost-Of-Living Crisis, Healthcare Disaster
REGINA – Carla Beck and the Saskatchewan NDP have launched an ambitious new project focused on delivering solutions to challenges faced by young people to draw them to stay here to build their career and raise their families.