Freedom of Information data shows that there are 525 temporary classrooms at schools throughout the province.
“Everyone recognizes and appreciates the quality teachers we have in Manitoba, but they and the students that they teach need to have an appropriate and safe learning environment. The 525 temporary trailers and huts that kids are being taught in because of inadequate school space doesn’t provide that,” Progressive Conservative Education Critic Kelvin Goertzen said.
Those temporary classrooms are located at 156 schools across Manitoba.
Goertzen said that the NDP have failed to provide appropriate classroom space at the same time that they are directing the number of children that can be in the classes and refusing to allow school divisions to close schools that have only a few students.
“In Winnipeg and Manitoba you have some schools that have huts all over the place with kids running in and out of schools to get to them, and in other schools the halls and classrooms are empty because there are only a few kids in the schools. And everybody’s hands are tied on this issue and taxes go up because the NDP put in directives without providing the resources to see them through properly,” said Goertzen.
Data compiled at the end of 2012 showed that The Winnipeg School Division had 70 temporary classrooms, Pembina Trails had 64 temporary classrooms and the Hanover School Division had 52 temporary classrooms.
