Sask. Teachers' Federation says more EAL specialists needed amid immigration-driven enrolment spike
CBC
Saskatchewan's premier said Monday that the province has listened to the calls for more education funding. But the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation (STF) wants the government to also make sure it focuses on the need for English as an additional language (EAL) specialists in schools.
Both the province and the STF said a recent uptick in immigration in the province has driven up enrolment numbers in public schools. Many of these children need language support.
"They have unique needs and not all teachers are adequately trained or specialized in that training to ensure that they can meet the needs of students who are learning English as an additional language," said Samantha Becotte, president of the STF.
The STF said data from the Ministry of Education shows that from the 2017-18 to 2021-22 school years, there was a reduction in professionals who support students other than classroom teachers, all while student enrolment grew. That included a 13.5 per cent reduction in EAL teachers.
"When those supports are cut or removed or reduced, then it just makes it harder for teachers to properly support those students," said Becotte.
In a statement to CBC News, the Ministry of Education said that as of May 1 there are more than 16,000 immigration students in Saskatchewan's 27 school divisions, but not all of them require EAL support.
The ministry said that for the 2022-23 school year, there are 124.2 EAL full-time equivalent teachers in Saskatchewan's 27 school divisions.
"School divisions make staffing determinations for positions including teachers, speech language pathologists and educational assistants to meet the needs of their students," said the ministry.
"Once EAL students reach a certain level of English proficiency they no longer require supports from EAL teachers."
The province said Ministry of Immigration and Career Training data shows that 59 per cent of students immigrating to Canada speak English as of February of this year.
Becotte said teachers have told her they need more support.
"I've talked to a teacher that said approximately 75 per cent of her class are students who are new to Canada within the last five years."
She said many teachers want to get EAL certificates, but it's not that easy.
Nadia Prokopchuk, an EAL teaching specialist at the University of Saskatchewan, oversees a certificate program for teachers with a Bachelor of Education who want to pursue additional teacher training to work with English language learners.
