Sask. Teachers’ Federation using TV campaign to push for higher funding

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) is airing a new commercial campaign, pushing for more government funding for students.

STF president Samantha Becotte said less than a month into the school year, the need for more resources for students is evident.

Becotte, speaking during an online news conference Tuesday, said she has been hearing that message from many teachers. One school counsellor, who has more than 200 students to meet with on a regular basis, used the term “triage” to describe the demand she is facing, Becotte said.

The STF president said a Grade 3 teacher told her she has a number of students who need extra help in her classroom, but has no educational assistants available to offer that help.

Becotte said this is the same story the STF has heard from teachers across the province, and trying to fill those needs is often pulling teachers in several directions at once — and away from their primary teaching duties.

Without extra support in classrooms, and a reduced number of teachers facing higher student enrolment, Becotte said it is becoming harder and harder for educators to support students and ensure their success.

In the commercial, images of children going to school are shown with a smiling teacher greeting them as they head into the building.

“Meeting their needs is more complicated than ever,” the narrator says. “The government needs to work with us, by funding solutions to meet the needs of every student.”

“Our kids deserve better,” Becotte said. “Teachers know that students need to be supported in their schools.”

Becotte called for higher government funding, not only to provide necessary supports but also to to also ensure fewer programs are cut.

She noted different regions and classrooms will face different challenges, but the common thread is that the STF keeps hearing schools haven’t received enough funding to meet the needs of students.

Becotte said the commercials are “starting the conversation here today to encourage government to listen to teachers, listen to parents and meet the needs of students across Saskatchewan by investing in education.”

The president didn’t name a dollar amount, instead saying the STF wants to see the government “fulfil the budgets” of the schools in Saskatchewan.

When asked about the top-up funding schools received from the government, Becotte said that money largely went to additional costs incurred due to inflation.

She said things will pop up and affect school budgets throughout the year — with inflation being an obvious example — but additional funding for that purpose didn’t impact the supports needed in classrooms.

The commercials began airing on television on Monday, with digital and social media versions of the campaign also running.

In an emailed statement, the Ministry of Education said significant funding has already been given to school divisions for the upcoming school year.

The Province also pointed to a one-time amount of $20 million given to aid school divisions with rising inflation costs, meant to “prevent inflationary costs from diverting resources away from classrooms.”

The government also outlined $1.99 billion going towards school operating funding, which it said is an increase of $29.4 million, or 1.5 per cent, over the previous school year. In the statement, the Province said the funding will provide an additional $6 million for classroom supports and “fully fund the two per cent teacher salary increase.”

Another $7 million was designated for school divisions to hire up to 200 new educational assistants for the 2022-23 school year, according to the Province.

“Funding to school divisions will be updated to reflect actual September 30 enrolments when confirmed in the fall,” the statement read.

“While government provides funding to school divisions for the provision of programs, supports and services, school divisions have the responsibility to make decisions within their allocated budget to meet local priorities and address the needs of their students and teachers.”