N.B. education grant fund frozen

The New Brunswick government has frozen a learning fund for teachers after defending its availability earlier this month.

On Thursday, a spokesperson for the Department of Education confirmed that new minister Roland Hachehas placed a freeze on the Innovative Learning Fund a program which gave out $5 million a year in grants to teachers who wanted totry outnew approaches to teaching in their classrooms.

Last week the previous education minister, Kelly Lamrock, had joined the Liberal partys attacks on Progressive Conservative leader David Alward regarding education cuts made earlier this year.

At the time, Lamrock defended the program, sayingthe Tory leader would prefer to cut the Innovative Learning Fund grants.

On Monday, Lamrock was transferred to the Department of Social Development when Premier Shawn Graham shuffled his cabinet. Roland Hache was moved from the environment department to take over the education portfolio.

Tory leader applauds freeze

The provinces opposition leader, David Alward, applauded the Liberal governments decision to freeze funds in the program.

The Tory leader said he has argued for weeks that the money should be used to reverse job cuts for school intervention workers and school library staff.

"I'm pleased to hear that Minister Hache has frozen the fund, but freezing it is not enough," Alward said on Friday. "We need to see the positions reinstated in the classroom," he said.

Hache refused interviews on Thursday. However, a spokespersonwith the ministers office said no decision has been made on what to do with the innovation fund.

The official said the minister is currently looking at options which may includeusing the innovation fund money to restore the school intervention and library positions cut earlier this year.

Alward said it was yet another case of the Liberal government failing to consult and then backing off after they've created a crisis.

"Time and time again they have had to reverse their decision. You would think at some point in time, it would start to sink in with the premier."