NBTA hopes survey will shed light on parties' stance on school issues ahead of election

The New Brunswick Teachers' Associationis hoping a survey sent out Wednesday to political parties in the province will shine a light on how they would address educational issues if elected.

AssociationpresidentPeter Lagacysaid the survey will help teachers and voters determine which parties "align most closely"with education needs as they head to the polls for the next provincial election.

"Teachers really want to know how the political parties will be lining up for the fall election," he said in a virtual press conference. "They want to know theirstance on some of these key issues."

The association has asked political parties to respond to the survey by Aug.6. It plans toshare the results publicly bythe beginning of the upcoming school year.

WATCH | 'They want to know their stance on some of these key issues'

NBTA distributes survey to N.B. political parties ahead of fall election

24 days ago

Duration 1:03

The New Brunswick Teachers Association hopes the results of the questionnaire will help inform teachers and New Brunswickers for the upcoming election.

According to the survey provided by the NBTA, it asks politicians to address three main issues.

Namely, investing in the future of public education, developing creative solutions for retaining and recruiting teachers, and involving teachers in policy and decision making.

"We've seen a lot of things happen in education but is that how it has to look moving forward? I'm not sure," Lagacy said."This gives the political parties a chance to tell us what they see the future of education might be in New Brunswick."

To Lagacy, retaining and recruiting teachers is a main priority for the association and the teachers to whom he has spoken.

Earlier this year, he confirmed anglophone schools would lose just over 1,200 teachers to retirement in the next five years.

In the survey, the association asked governments to "urgently"put a recruitment plan into place to fill 524 teaching vacancies in anglophone schools.

"We've talked for more than a year about the need for teachers," he said. "That urgent need is what we're really hoping to see. Something that could come out ... and have an immediate impact."

Lagacy added that it is crucial for political parties to reshape the way they approach policy and decision-making surroundingeducation. He said teachers need to be actively involved in the process that impacts their day-to-day work.

He also said they are hoping to get concrete answers about how each party's platform plans to invest in the future of the public education system.

The association has been asking politicians about their plans for educational issues for more than 30 years. This year, they hope the public will take as much of an interest in the results as their membership does.

Lagacy said the association will not use the results of the survey to encourage its members to vote for any particular party.

"Let's stay informed and ensure our voices are heard for the future of our public education system," he said.