77.5 positions to be cut, but new teachers will still be hired

Newfoundland and Labrador will eliminate dozens of permanent teaching positions in the next school year, but a wave of retirements will mean the province will still need to hire new teachers.

During a pre-budget announcement Friday morning, Minister of Education Derrick Dalley announced that 77.5 teaching positions will be cut.

Dalley said that while the number of teaching units will be reduced by 1.4 per cent, the fact that more than 150 teachers are retiring meansthat new teachers will need to be hired to make up the difference.

The changes will save the government close to $7 million, Dalley said.

As well, Dalley announced that the cap on some grades are increase. TheGrade 4-6 class size capwill be going up by one student per class, while the cap forGrades 7 through 9 will be going up by two students per class.

With the new changes, Grade 4-6 classes will now cap out at 26 students per class and Grade 7-9 will cap out at 29.

Dalley said that there will be no cuts made to special needs programs. Instead,extra funds will be made available for special needs teachers and programs.

Full-day kindergarten will still be going aheadaccording to Dalley, and is set to start in September 2016.

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Some 142.5 new teaching positionswill be added to accommodate all-day kindergarten when it does begin next year.

According to the minister, per-student spending has increased by 75 per cent under the current government.

Teachers' union concerned about class sizes

Meanwhile, the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association is calling the move a step back, and that the cut in teaching units will have a negative impact.

NLTA president Jim Dinn said while government has protected class sizes for the youngest students, others could feel a pinch.

"It's something positive from our government but it still doesn't address the need,at this point in time,that in the other Grades 4-9, you have an increase in class caps which is going to present some challenges there, especially in small rural schools where you have multigraded classrooms to begin with," said Dinn.

Dinn said he expects government to reverse the changes to class size once the economy improves.

Dinn noted he is pleased there will be no changes to the plans for full-day kindergarten.