Teacher Shortage - Question Period
MS. CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. Last month I asked the minister about schools facing a shortage of qualified teachers. At that time the minister said this was only an issue in a single board. Since then he has identified it as an unintended and unanticipated consequence of hiring an additional 761 teachers since 2013. However, according to the department's own data, there were 9,206 teachers employed in 2013 and 9,029 teachers employed in 2016.
Mr. Speaker, will the minister admit that he misspoke when he suggested there had been a net gain in the number of teachers employed in the province?
HON. ZACH CHURCHILL « » : Mr. Speaker, the member is not speaking facts on this. There have been 761 new teaching positions imbedded into the system. Those are for math mentors, literacy mentors, supports to support the class cap.
I remember the days when the NDP was in power, Mr. Speaker, and subs were lined up at our doors because they couldn't find full-time work in the system. We've actually hired those folks, they now have full-time employment in our system and that has created a sub pressure, which we are working with our boards to address, and our B.Ed. providers to ensure that the grads who are coming into the system fill the gaps and the need there. Thank you.
MS. CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, the government should have seen this coming. Instead of casting blame, instead of calling me out a second time for not telling the truth in this House, they are scrambling to address yet another problem they have created in the education system. The minister is now allowing boards to hire individuals without education degrees to act as substitutes in our schools.
Mr. Speaker, will the minister admit that his government's refusal to listen to and negotiate a fair contract with teachers, is responsible for the current shortage?
MR. CHURCHILL « » : Mr. Speaker, think about what the member is attacking us for. We're having a sub-pressure in the system because all of those young grads that came into the system are now employed full time, what they've been waiting for. Under previous governments, for years, ever since I've been elected, we had young people in our offices as MLAs saying they couldn't (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER « » : Order, please.
MR. CHURCHILL « » : . . . find full-time work and they (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER « » : Order, please. The honourable member for Pictou East will come to order.
MR. CHURCHILL « » : Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. For the years we were elected, before our government, we had young graduates at our doors as MLAs saying we can't find permanent work in this province. Now, we've actually hired 761 new teachers who have full-time positions in the province and all the Opposition members can do is complain about it.
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