Sask. school divisions struggling to 'maintain a status quo' amid years of underfunding
CTV
Sask. school divisions struggling to ‘maintain a status quo' amid years of underfunding
After months spent talking about additional investments in education from the provincial government, two of the largest school divisions in Saskatchewan say it's not enough to address class size or composition.
Saskatoon Public Schools and Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools released updates to their 2024-2025 budgets this month, and both say the modest increase to funding will barely cover inflation and enrolment growth.
"When factoring in an anticipated enrolment increase of 700 students, rising costs due to inflation and the continued increase in students requiring additional support, there is minimal room for further supports, programs and services for students," a letter from the public school division sent out to parents last week read.
"This announcement is a good first step, but we require years of additional investments in education to reduce the funding gap and return service offerings that were reduced in 2016-2017," a budget update from Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools read.
Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation president Samantha Becotte wasn't surprised by the news.
"It is extremely disappointing. I know it likely comes as a shock to many people in the public, given announcements around the budget specifically from our premier when he kind of leaked his own budget and said that $180 million was coming into our education funding," Becotte said.
"It really should be a significant concern for students and their families and members of the public about the lack of investment that our government is putting into public education."
