Saskatchewan's teacher/student ratio becomes topic of debate as opposition sounds alarm

As those across the province await the verdict from binding arbitration between the province and the Sask. Teachers Federation (STF) – the Official Opposition is raising alarms over the teacher student ratio.

As those across the province await the verdict from binding arbitration between the province and the Sask. Teachers Federation (STF) – the Official Opposition is raising alarms over the teacher student ratio.

The Saskatchewan NDP says the province’s latest five-year report shows student population is up more than 15,000 while the province is down 86 educators in both the classroom and through distance learning.

"These numbers lay bare the reality of the inadequate funding that this Sask. Party government has placed in education," Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck told reporters Tuesday.

The Official Opposition is citing numbers from the end of the past school year. The province says that it has added 200 teachers during the current school year.

"In 2024-25, the student to educator ratio of 15.2 and the average class size of 19.9 remained the same as the previous year," the province said in the written statement.

The provincial government went on to say that it is continuing to spend “the most per capita” on education among the promises.

The NDP says Saskatchewan ranks last in terms of per-student funding.