RELEASE: MB Teachers React to Funding Announcement

 

January 24, 2019

 

Public school funding announced against Education Review backdrop

2019-20 funds not nearly enough to maintain programs

 

For the third year in a row, the Manitoba government has announced a real dollar drop in funding for public schools. And the prospect of doing more with even less next school year against the background of a major K-12 education review does not sit well with Manitoba teachers.

 

“No matter how you slice it, a .5% “increase” doesn’t even play catch up to roughly 2% inflation and increases in student enrollment,” says Manitoba Teachers’ Society President Norm Gould. “Teachers face more diverse student needs than ever. This announcement will not help.”

 

In addition, Gould says the province is once again directing divisions to cap increases to their local education property tax at two per cent for the 2019-20 school year and will ask divisions to continue to cut administrative costs.

 

A detailed backgrounder sheet distributed along with today’s government news release detailed winners and losers among individual divisions, “with fewer getting increases”, said Gould.

 

As for yesterday’s announcement of the K-12 Education Review Commission, the MTS President says the Society is onboard.

 

“We are pleased to see the education review getting underway and we’re hopeful that the recommendations will address funding shortfalls for public schools so that students can get the resources and help they need in every corner of the province.”