The education minister admits some of the 104 new full-time equivalent student assistant positions announced last week will be allocated to an expanded busing system.
The NLTA has for years called for a greater number of student assistants in the classroom to help students with a growing number of complex needs.
The department indicated last week that funding has been allocated to hire more student assistants, but, there are questions about how many will be used in the classroom.
Government has removed the old 1.6 km restriction for access to school buses, meaning more buses and student assistants will be needed.
Minister Krista Lynn Howell says students need to be supported on the school bus.
“Some of those” (new student assistants) “will be required for transportation to and from school,” says Howell. “That was something we heard loud and clear as part of an accessibility plan.”
Howell says the funding will help to address the split shift many student assistants working on buses had been working.
It will help to stabilize the work day for student assistants, with a five hour work day commitment that will help to provide a continuity for students and help to stabilize the workforce.