Stable funding, not political manoeuvring, the key to public education
Calgary – Official Opposition Education Critic Kent Hehr is thanking the premier for restoring over $100 million in education funding, but notes that the shortfall should never have occurred in the first place.
The Official Opposition, Hehr in particular, has been pushing hard for months to restore the funding so that school boards across the province can avoid laying off hundreds of teachers and support staff.
“For the sake of Alberta’s students, I’m delighted that the premier has seen the light and restored this funding,” Hehr says. “But let’s not forget that she was at the cabinet table when the original boneheaded decision to short-change education funding was made. It’s fine to correct your mistakes, but we could have avoided a lot of grief, hassle and expense had the mistake not been made in the first place.”
New Liberal Leader Raj Sherman notes that their education policy includes a commitment to predictable, sustainable, long-term funding for education, with no political strings attached.
“Alberta’s future is put at risk when we play political football with our children’s education. Albertan families need an education system they can rely upon and this can only happen if local school boards have predictable, sustainable funding to support the work of our teachers.” Sherman says. “Our kids deserve better – they deserve a world-class public education.”
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