Inclusive Education Commission Funding Commitment - Question Period
MS. CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. Yesterday I asked the minister about shortages of teachers across the province. Well there's also a shortage of guidance counsellors. Given the poor relationship between this government and people working in the education system, few are willing to speak publicly about their concerns but some have taken to social media, like this picture recently posted on Facebook - and I'll table it - of a sign on the door of one guidance counsellor asking students to be patient as they try to care for 655 young people.
Although we know the government hired some additional staff to address the crisis in Cape Breton, we need to do better than reacting to tragedy. Mr. Speaker, is the minister satisfied that Citadel High, Millwood High, J.L. Ilsley High, and other schools opened in September with fewer guidance counsellors than they had the previous school year?
HON. ZACH CHURCHILL « » : Mr. Speaker, a very important question in terms of allocation of resources, making sure that they're going where they need to, to support those children who are in the most need in our system. We have increased the amount of student psychologists, mental health supports in the system. I think that's important to note. That has improved every single year since we've been in.
The Commission on Inclusive Education currently is looking at this particular question, as well, and if we should adjust the funding model and the allocation of these resources in the system. We do anxiously await their findings and, in the meantime, we'll work with our boards on any specific cases of concern that do arise. Thank you.
MS. CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, despite assurances to the contrary, there continues, based on the information that we have received anecdotally, to be a shortage of other specialists in the classroom. These professionals work with our most vulnerable students, and without them we run the risk of children falling through the cracks.
Mr. Speaker, speech-language pathologists are being asked to take on additional schools. Some cover more than six schools, an individual staff person. We know that we need more educational program assistants in the classroom to support learners with diverse needs. This need for additional supports in our classrooms has been raised loud and clear by teachers and parents, many of whom were outside this Legislature in February. It seems that the situation is only getting worse.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development loves to talk about the Commission on Inclusive Education, so I will ask the minister, can he end the uncertainty for parents and teachers and commit today to fund the implementation of the recommendations of that commission?
MR. CHURCHILL « » : It is important to note that special support needs have been protected by this government, unlike previous governments who have reduced those supports because of declining enrolment. We provided additional funding to the boards to hold and enhance those services. We have hired more speech pathologists in the system. We have hired more mental health clinicians. By the end of our term every single school in this province will have access to mental health clinicians through the SchoolsPlus program.
I wish we took more time in this Legislature to recognize all the great stories of success where these people are having life-changing impacts on our students. There are challenges in this system. They are systemic and that's why we are moving forward to transform this system so it better serves every single student in it. Thank you.
Published by Order of the Legislature by Hansard Reporting Services and printed by the Queen's Printer.
Available on INTERNET at http://nslegislature.ca/index.php/proceedings/hansard/