The NLTA is worried the provincial government will increase class sizes without completing a required review of the teacher allocation model.

The union has launched its Class Size Matters awareness campaign to spark the conversation on how changes to the classroom affect students and teachers.

Over the last eight years, the Teachers’ Union says successive governments have increased class sizes by amending the Teacher Allocation Model established in 2008.

The union says that has been happening even as government “forced” the integration of students with special needs into classrooms without the supports to which they were accustomed.

The union says it is aware of a memo that’s been circulated to principals suggesting that Kindergarten class sizes could be increased to 24 from the current maximum of 20 students to accommodate junior Kindergarten.

President Dean Ingram says they want the public to get involved in the debate on class size and class composition.

Education Minister Brian Warr has issued a statement on that issue. He says government has no intention of increasing class size. The minister says an additional 350 teaching resources are being provided over a three-year period and will be fully implemented in 2021.