(Photo: Tany Yao, left, and Brian Jean, right, discuss the Wildrose plan to reverse PC cuts to education on April 27th, 2015. Crystal Laderas / MORNING REPORTER)
Brian Jean is promising that if elected a Wildrose Government would reverse the Progressive Conservative cuts to education.
Under its proposed budget the PC’s have reduced funding for “Inclusive Education” by $7.5 million which will hit special needs students and those learning English as a Second Language (ESL), as well as those needing mental health supports.
“With the Prentice PCs spurring on larger class sizes after years of neglect, it’s critical we make sure we help teachers and students by increasing special needs, ESL, and mental health supports,” says Jean. “Our plan is realistic, affordable and shows that unlike the PCs who cut funding for inclusive education this year, Wildrose will get teachers, parents and most importantly, students, the supports they need.
Under the Wildrose plan the increased funding will be covered by the extra $7.5 million the Department of Education the Wildrose conservatively budgeted for scrapping school fees.
The Wildrose would also throw in an additional $10 million into ESL and mental health programs through the Education department budget.
Last week the Fort McMurray Catholic School board joined 18 other school boards in saying that there isn’t enough money to support growing classrooms.
“They face more and more complex classrooms and teachers have told us that more than anything they want to see more teaching assistants for kids in special needs and English as a second language,” says Jean.
You can read that story here.
