NDP calls for action to address ‘slow-moving crisis’ in schools

School Division numbers show 23 percent more English as an Additional Language (EAL) students in our major centres and seven percent fewer EAL teachers in the province over the past few years — just one example of how this government’s underfunding of education has hurt students and strained classrooms, says Saskatchewan NDP Deputy Leader Carla Beck. Beck called on Premier Moe to live up to his leadership promise that he would not balance the budget “on the backs of our students, our elderly, our sick, or our most vulnerable.”

“Moe’s past pledge directly contradicts his government’s entire approach, and he’s shown no sign of changing course” said Beck. “Trying to balance the books on the backs of kids and future generations is exactly what his government is ‘on track’ to do this year. And it’s precisely the wrong approach: their cuts and underfunding hurt kids and families today and cost us so much more down the road.”

Despite the growing number of kids with complex needs in our schools, the Sask. Party government has made significant cuts in the classroom, cutting $74 million from our schools over the past two years alone. As a result, according to the government’s own statistics, there are now fewer counsellors, psychologists, and speech language pathologists supporting those kids than there were in 2014-15.

“This underfunding of our classrooms is a slow-moving crisis that hurts families across the province in a dozen different unique ways each day: kids left to struggle on their own, missed days of school, stressed out parents, and overworked teachers” said Beck. “It’s not rocket science: they manufactured this crisis with their cuts, they need to admit their mistake and invest in Saskatchewan kids.”

Latest posts

BRIGHTON RESIDENTS LEFT IN THE DARK: CARLA BECK'S TEAM CALLS OUT MLA KEN CHEVELDAYOFF OVER PHANTOM SCHOOLS

SASKATOON— Carla Beck's team, joined by local Brighton resident Dr. Sarah Chomicki, is calling on Scott Moe to fulfill his government's broken promises and immediately get to work on a neighborhood school for the rapidly growing community of Brighton.

NEW DATA SHOWS THAT SASKATCHEWAN HAS THE HIGHEST CHILD FOOD BANK USAGE IN CANADA

Beck Commits To School Nutrition Program, Doing All She Can To End Child Poverty
REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is sounding the alarms on new data showing more children in Saskatchewan are forced to rely on the food bank than anywhere else in Canada.

CARLA BECK GOVERNMENT WOULD RESTORE DIRECT-TO-LANDLORD RENT PAYMENTS AS MOOSE JAW FACES RISING HOMELESSNESS

More Affordable Housing, Rent Control Also Part Of Plan Being Developed By Beck’s Team
MOOSE JAW – Carla Beck’s team is in Moose Jaw today committing that, should they form the next provincial government, her team will restore direct-to-landlord rent payments for Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) and Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) clients.

CARLA BECK’S TEAM BRINGS PRIMARY CARE PLAN TO PRINCE ALBERT, GUARANTEES EVERY PERSON HAS A FAMILY PHYSICIAN

PRINCE ALBERT – Yesterday, Carla Beck’s team released the first phase of their plan to deliver big, bold changes in healthcare for Saskatchewan, which starts with prioritizing primary care. Today, MLA Keith Jorgenson, Associate Shadow Minister for Health, has brought the plan to Prince Albert to discuss how it can revitalize healthcare for residents in the area.

NDP Caucus Office