The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation is hosting a series of mini-rallies across the province, and Humboldt is a key stop on October 21. The mini-rally is an invitation to all in the Humboldt area to attend and express concern for the future of public education in Saskatchewan. The mini-rallies are a follow up to this past April’s rally at the Legislative Building in region where thousands of teachers, education workers and supporters showed up to voice concern about education funding and an increasing lack of resources. 

“We know there were many people across the province who were not able to join us on that day,” says STF President Samantha Becotte, “And we also haven’t really seen the response we needed to see from the Government to ensure all students across our province can be successful.” 

Becotte says that teachers have heard from the previous Education Minister, Dustin Duncan, that enrolment growth is the main cost driver in education, but Becotte says there are many factors that need to be taken into account when it comes to funding.  

“In rural areas, transportation is one of the significant costs among the many factors. We are seeing enrolment growth in all parts of our province, and education funding hasn’t been keeping pace with that.” 

Becotte says another concern in rural areas is the growth of multi-graded and multi-curricular classrooms which can require greater resources than are sometimes made available.  

Recent rankings have shown that Canada has dropped to sixth place in Canadian in terms of per student operating funding, and the STF claims that Saskatchewan is one of only two provinces to see a decline in inflation-adjusted per student operating funding when it’s seen the second highest per capita increase in student enrolment in the country. There is also concern around reduction in specialists like psychologists and counsellors when the number of students requiring supports has increased by 40 percent.  

Like the Regina rally, the Humboldt mini-rally welcomes all members of the public, says Becotte.  

“Anyone who cares about public education should be at these rallies, and in my opinion, that should be everyone in this province. Even if you’re not directly connected to the education system, everyone benefits from a high-quality education system. Business owners want skilled workers through education. We want professionals to come to our communities, and many of them are coming with families, and if they want to settle, they need a quality education system.”  

It’s simply a matter of children having a right to a high-quality education with the supports they need to be successful, maintains Becotte and the STF. 

The mini-rally in Humboldt is slated for 1:00 – 2:00 pm at the constituency office of MLA Donna Harpauer, 632 9th St. E. Other mini-rallies are slated in Moose Jaw (Oct. 14), Saskatoon (October 28), and North Battleford (Nov. 4). More details are available on the STF website.  

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