In the light of new public health orders concerning the limitations of indoor gatherings in Saskatchewan from 30-15 people, New Democrat candidates Carla Beck and Trent Wotherspoon reiterated the necessity of having smaller class sizes, when they spoke together on the campaign trail in Regina on Oct. 14.
“We’ve repeatedly said it is more important than ever to keep our class sizes small so kids can be safe,” said Regina Lakeview Candidate Carla Beck. “But, while we’re reducing gathering sizes in homes to fifteen, Scott Moe and the Sask. Party cuts mean that kids and teachers are still being crammed into classrooms of thirty-five or more.”
The NDP said Scott Moe’s cuts have been hurting students and teachers for years – the party further insisted the situation had worsened during the pandemic.
According to figures released from the NDP, The Saskatchewan Party slashed $54 million in school spending in the 2017 budget and have continued to spend less on education ever since – meaning the provincial government’s cuts have reduced funding for each student by more than $300.
When the pandemic appeared in the country, the NDP said Scott Moe had disregarded the interests of parents, teachers and students with the government’s back to school plan for Sept. 2020. Before students in the province returned to school in the fall, the NDP have also repeatedly stated that the Saskatchewan Party had released the worst back to school plan in Canada.
Trent Wotherspoon – the NDP candidate for Regina Rosemont and a former teacher – said the NDP were committed to employing 1,000 teachers, 750 educational assistants and 400 custodial staff.
Moreover, Wotherspoon advised against more education cuts, especially during a time of crisis, such as the pandemic.
“All we can trust Scott Moe to do, is what he has always done – and that’s cut,” said Wotherspoon. “Large class sizes are bad for our kids at the best of times, but when the Chief Medical Officer is telling us to restrict indoor gatherings to no more than 15 people, it’s irresponsible for the Sask. Party to keep our kids in classes with more than 30. We need to invest in people and start by reducing our kids’ class sizes.”
Meanwhile, the Saskatchewan Party have often countered the NDP’s narrative on the provincial government’s outclassed cuts in education, by frequently highlighting their financial support to province’s educational infrastructure.
A release from the government read: “Since Brad Wall and the Saskatchewan Party formed government, Saskatchewan has tripled investments in educational infrastructure across our province and doubled the total education budget.”
The government also said 40 new or replaced schools and 25 renovation projects in the province were carried out since 2008.
Furthermore, $966 million had been invested in capital funding in concurrence with government figures.
Moreover, the government pointed out that 18 new joint-use schools were under construction in some of Saskatchewan’s fastest growing communities.
The government highlighted an increase of teachers and support workers in education, insisting the rate of students declined by 16 per cent between 1997 and 2006 under the NDP. Also, in accordance with the government's arithmetic, the number of teachers in the province decreased by 400 from 2000-2007 in the years when Premier Lorne Calvert presided over the helm of the Legislative Assembly.
