Education Minister Krista Lynn Howell is optimistic that government will be able to fill 400 new teaching and learning assistant positions in the education system.
Government is putting $20-million towards that initiative this year, with funding more than doubling to $44-million next year.
Howell says they will be building on current recruitment and retention efforts, and they will also be partnering with MUN’s faculty of education to build a “rural and remote cohort” that will give people who can’t go to St. John’s an opportunity to pursue a career in education.
Howell notes that of the four-hundred, 275 will be teachers, guidance counsellors, and administrators. The remainder will be teaching assistants.
She doesn’t think it will be a “cure-all pill” as they have other issues that need attention, but she does think the new resources will “move the dial.”
Trent Langdon (VOCM News file photo)
Teachers are encouraged by what they saw in the budget.
Government increased funding to education, particularly the K-12 system for things such as new technology and the teaching services budget.
NLTA President Trent Langdon says they’re still combing through the documents, and need further clarification from government.
