MANY LESSONS STILL TO BE LEARNED
HILLIER CALLS ON MINISTER, UNIONS, AND SCHOOL BOARDS, TO DO BETTER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
25 November 2019
(QUEEN’S PARK) Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston independent MPP Randy Hillier rose in the Legislature this afternoon to address Ontario’s education crisis and tomorrow’s job action by OSSTF and ETFO members.
“A month ago today, I sent the Minister of Education a letter recommending that this House convene a Select Committee on Education. I shared this recommendation with school boards and unions,” Hillier told the House. “Speaker, who knew there would be so many crickets in November? Nothing but crickets.”
Hillier notes that enrollment and test scores have been in decline, despite the cost of education continuing to rise. “We can’t keep doing the same thing, expecting different results,” Hillier says. “Had the Minister convened a Select Committee on Education as I suggested, and brought everyone to the table, it would have demonstrated a sincere desire to fix education, and may have averted the job action tomorrow.”
Hillier relayed the following facts in his address to the House today
- In 13 years Ontario’s public education system has declined by over 100,000 students, yet there are 20,000 more teachers and staff;
- In just 10 years per pupil spending has increased to over 13 thousand per year, an increase of 39%;
- Wages and benefits now comprise 78% of the education budget;
- Secondary students receiving special-ed support has risen to 27%;
- Educational scores have declined, while Alberta, BC & Quebec have better outcomes; and
- Violence in our schools puts everyone at risk.
You can watch his full statement here.
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Contact:
Queen’s Park Office 416-325-2244
Perth Constituency Office 613-267-8239
[email protected]