The PC government announced last week that it would consider removing the maximum amount of students allowed in a kindergarten classroom.
Jay Aspin, Chair of the Near North District School Board says that the policy is not yet confirmed.
“The view from the education community is that lower class size is better and it’s obvious because there are more hours to offer per child taught and that generally helps youth and I can’t say that I disagree with that,” he said.
“The current kindergarten cap for class sizes is 29 students and the average class size across any school board can’t be more than 26,” Aspin said. “Primary grade cap is 23 students.”
Aspin says he’s hopeful that the caps on classroom sizes are not removed though he says the government is taking a look at all potential deficiencies and that class sizes could be a factor on the table.
Aspin says the current consultation process involves class sizes and teacher hiring practices of supply teachers.
“I think the idea is to provide for flexibility for school boards in hiring supply teachers. I think the current system is a seniority system and amending that will be a consideration. I don’t think it’s that is much of a financial consideration rather than an operation consideration that boards would have more flexibility to hire teachers with merit as opposed to seniority,” he added.
The provincial budget consultation deadline is February 8th. Have your say in the 2019 provincial budget survey here.