Province adds 27 new teaching positions for the fall

The province announced Friday that it will be adding 27 new teaching positions for this coming fall. Twenty-five will be for English schools, with two going to French schools.

The new staff will be distributed based on school populations and classroom needs.

• Parents at rural P.E.I. schools worried about teacher cuts
• Putting teachers where the kids are: Public Schools Branch reallocating positions

"Class composition is the number one need identified by teachers," said Education, Early Learning and Culture Minister Doug Currie.

"When the new positions are combined with other positions freed-up through retirements this year, we are looking at more than 60 young, new faces in education, which will have a tremendous impact on the learning environment."

According to a news release from the province, most of the positions will be to support classroom teachers.

Rezoning recommendations that came about from the school review process will balance out the populations at Charlottetown schools.

A new student well being initiative will also be introduced in September.

The program will be supported by $5 million in funding annually when it is fully implemented in three years time.

Concerns about teacher reallocations

Leigh Dyment, a member of the Three Oaks parent council, said he thinks the announcement is "very positive."

However, Dyment said he said he continues to be concerned about possible reallocation of teachers away from Three Oaks and other rural schools.

• Parents at rural P.E.I. schools worried about teacher cuts

"I suspect this announcement isn't going to change these preliminary numbers for the reallocation of teachers," said Dyment.

The Public Schools Branch has not yet said what the exact teacher distribution will be for next year. Parker Grimmer, director of the Public Schools Branch said the branch will be looking at the needs of all schools across the province.

Final numbers could be released as early as next week.

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