For Immediate Release
November 7, 2024
Today in the House of Assembly, NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) challenged government on their lack of a plan to find solutions to the issues facing schools in the province.
Last month, Dinn sent two letters and emails to the Minister of Education and to Department officials questioning the lack of resources for English as an Additional Language (EAL) teachers. It took this correspondence from Dinn for the Department to approve seven essential English as an Additional Language positions, and funding approval for software needed by EAL teachers to support their students. “Why isn’t the Minister listening to teachers?” Dinn asked.
“We’re two months into the school year and well over two years since the integration of the NLESD into the Department of Education was announced, and still there is no plan to resource English as an Additional Language or address student support services and violence in the classroom,” he said. “Clearly there is no plan.”
EAL workers in the system have told Dinn that Department officials have said workers should not expect to do things the way they did prior to the integration. He says the changeover neglected to create a dedicated budget for software and for other resources. He asked the Minister today, “Will you simply admit that the only reason you acted damage control and to avoid embarrassment in the House of Assembly and not out of concern for teachers and the students they support?”
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For further information, contact Stephanie Curran, Media and Communications Officer, NDP Caucus at 330-0328 (o), or stephaniecurran@gov.nl.ca
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