Earle McCurdy: NDP government would reverse teaching cuts

NDP Leader Earle McCurdy announced plans Wednesdayto reverse teaching cutsand makesure Newfoundland and Labradormeets the recommended ratio for school counsellors and psychologists to students.

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"It would be impossible to overstate the importance of a solid education. Children who successfully learn their academics are best placed to move on to make a productive career out of whatever field they choose to go into," said McCurdy.

The announcement wouldsee77.5 teaching units that were cut in this year's provincial budget restoredat a cost of $7 million dollars.

"Of those cuts the greatest impact was on rural schools,"he said.

"The increase in class sizes give teachers less time to give children the individual time they need, and this is particularly problematic with children with special needs and complex needs."

According to McCurdy, the cuts have also driven young teachers away from rural communities.

"We can't afford to send our young people away," he said.

"Attracting and retaining our youth is essential to revitalizing our economy and planning for the future when there will be a growing number of seniors."

Reversing the cuts will also result in class sizes returning to averages of 25 for grades 4 to 6, and 27 for grades 7 to 9, says McCurdy.

NDP will hire more school counsellors,psychologists

St. John's Centre candidateGerry Rogerswas also on hand at the event.

She saidthe partywill workto make sure thattherecommended ratio of one school counsellor to 250 students, and one school psychologist to 1,000 students is attained.

The party said itwill work towards the goalby investing $7 million a year into hiring school counsellors and psychologists.

An additional $500,000 will be invested each year towards what the NDP is calling a "recruiting process"that will help themfully implement the recommended ratio should they receive a second term.

It's a move, says Rogers, that she hopes will give school counsellors more support.

"Because of the lack of resources, our schoolcounsellorsand our psychologists can only deal with crises, and they are unable to do the work of prevention and resilience building," said Gerry Rogers.

In a release, the provincial NDP said itwill also work towards removing the quota for assessments for school counsellors.

Schoolcounsellorsare currently required to conductassessmentsanddiagnose students, whilemeeting a minimum quota of 15 assessments per year.

The announcements follow an NDP promise to reinstatethe tuition freeze for post-secondary students.

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