Wall talks Internet with teachers

REGINA — Premier Brad Wall on Friday provided some additional details about how a plan to improve Internet access in Saskatchewan schools will work.

After discussing the project at the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation Councillor Conference in Saskatoon on Friday, Wall said in a phone interview that improving Internet connections came up during informal consultations he held with teachers in the spring.

“There was a number of issues, but there was a real consensus around a lack of bandwidth and the CommunityNet program not keeping up with the technology,” Wall said.

“They noted that there was lots of hardware provided by the education system, but not the bandwidth, necessarily. So we’ve committed to improve that with the $5 million (via SaskTel) commitment over the next number of years and additional operating funds, so that within the next four to six months, classrooms will start to see improvements.”

The money is intended to ensure faster Internet access through CommunityNet, a SaskTel network that connects executive government, health and education sectors in the province. SaskTel and the Ministry of Education will also work with school divisions on bandwidth needs over the long term.

The effort is “a great way for SaskTel to partner in the community right with the schools,” Wall said.

“If you’ve got a Crown corporation, one of the advantages are some public policy imperatives and here’s one of them.”

Wall also said he confirmed with the STF on Friday that government is “pausing the curriculum development changes.

“We heard from teachers that there seemed to be fewer pilots and less resources for curriculum changes and the rapidity of change was something, as well.

Teachers were “very gracious” about the announcements he made, Wall said.

“There’s no doubt frustrations, I understand that, but there just seemed to be a willingness to hear what I had to say today, but more importantly, to move forward.”

In a statement, STF president Colin Keess said the organization was pleased Wall addressed the conference.