The Manitoba government continues to invest in student success by providing $3 million in new funding to hire more teachers and keep kindergarten to Grade 3 classes smaller. This announcement was made by Education and Advanced Learning Minister James Allum.
“With smaller classes, teachers have an increased opportunity to work with students to meet their individual needs,” said Minister Allum. “As a result, students get the attention they need to establish solid foundational skills and excel academically throughout their school years and later on in life.”
In 2011, the Manitoba government announced it would provide new supports to enable school divisions to cap kindergarten to Grade 3 classrooms at 20 students by September 2017. This investment brings funding for smaller classes to a total of $13 million for the 2015-16 year, the minister noted.
“Smaller classes enrich students’ experiences in school, and we’re pleased the Manitoba government is providing these supports for teachers and schools,” said Naomi Kruse, executive director, Manitoba Association of Parent Councils. “This investment will help to ensure we can continue working toward a goal of providing all children in Manitoba with access to rich educational experiences.”
Partnering with school divisions, more than 382 additional teachers have been hired since 2011 to create smaller classes across the province, Minister Allum said. He added other significant results include:
- 437 more kindergarten to Grade 3 classes;
- 775 more kindergarten to Grade 3 classes with 20 or fewer students; and
- the reduction of 376 kindergarten to Grade 3 classes with 24 or greater students, representing a 59 per cent reduction in the largest classes.
The minister made the announcement from Sister MacNamara School, where students are now benefiting from a new classroom thanks to a provincial investment of more than $390,000, as part of the smaller classes initiative.
“Winnipeg School Division has made a concentrated effort to implement the smaller classes initiative before the 2017 deadline,” said Mark Wasyliw, chair, board of trustees. Winnipeg School Division (WSD). “As of this September, over 54 per cent of WSD kindergarten to Grade 3 classes are already 20 or fewer students. The announcement will help us continue our efforts to establish smaller classes for our youngest students.”
School divisions are required to post class sizes of all kindergarten to Grade 3 classes on their websites. Further information on the smaller classes initiative can be found at www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/schools.
