Education professionals to be hired
The 190 people will help deal with classroom inclusion
The upcoming school year will see the hiring of more than 190 specialized education professionals as Nova Scotia boosts resources for its increasingly complex classrooms.
Tuesday’s announcement by Education Minister Zach Churchill is part of an initial $15-million effort for targeted areas including behavioural issues and autism.
Churchill said the new hirings will include a range of professionals to support teachers whom he says, “can’t do it alone.’’
“But this is the beginning of the story, it’s not the end,’’ he said. “We believe by changing the structure of the system as we have, we will have a greater ability to ensure these resources are applied consistently and in a way that will be most effective.’’
It was one of the key issues in the province’s recent bitter dispute with the teachers’ union, which said the inclusive-classrooms model adopted in 1997 left schools without
enough staff to assist pupils with learning disabilities and other challenges.
The hirings include 40 child youth care practitioners and 60 education assistants; 70 specialist teachers with expertise in supporting children with behavioural challenges; 11 parent navigators to help families get programs and services; four student health nurses; and six school psychologists and speech language pathologists.
The department is also funding eight alternative education programs throughout the province and two programs to help students with complex needs to prepare for life after high school.
Teachers will also receive specialized training to help deal with complex classrooms, and
teacher and education assistants will also receive training in autism support.
Churchill said it’s about addressing the most pressing needs first.
“Behavioural supports have been what people have identified as being lacking right now,’’ he said. “That’s created some of the greatest pressures and challenges for our classrooms, so I think the focus on behavioural and autism supports are a key.’’
The minister also said a tender would go out this spring for an independent third-party researcher to help assess the province’s progress in addressing inclusive education.
Churchill said that “research team’’ would produce an annual report to the public. He said the province would also enlist the services of Inclusive Education Canada to help with the oversight and implementation of initiatives.
Tuesday’s announcement follows the release of an independent commission’s report on inclusive education in March that recommended hiring between 600 and 700 more specialists by 2022.
The report also recommended an increase in funding over five years to around $70- to $80 million annually — a seven per cent increase in the Education Department’s overall budget.
Commission chair Sarah Shea said it would take time and further resources to fully meet the report’s goals, but she called Churchill’s announcement “an excellent start.’’
“The planned steps align well with the areas that were identified as priorities and provide more support for students, parents, and educators,’’ Shea said in a government news release.