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Opposition supports NLTA campaign
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Opposition Education Critic and MHA for the District of Port De Grave, Roland Butler, supports the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers Association=s (NLTA) campaign aimed at improving learning conditions for students in this province. "The teachers= association is raising a number of important issues and it is important that government listen to what they are saying rather than turning a blind eye to emerging problems in the education system,@ says Butler. A I had intended to raise these issues in the House of Assembly, but did not get an opportunity to do so given the hasty way government scrambled to close the legislature this past week." One concern expressed by the NLTA is that, while they support providing quality learning environments and experiences to children of varying abilities, there must be a recognition of the significant resources necessary to provide this individualized level of service. The Liberal critic says he wanted to ask the education minister when teachers can expect to receive the significant increase in resources needed to make the pathways model work. Government should also consider changing the way teaching units are allocated in this province, says Butler. "The NLTA has made a strong case that the overwhelming workloads of teachers and the learning conditions for students can only be positively impacted by the addition of teachers to the system. This government can=t continue to ignore the evidence placed before them and should commit to allocating teachers based on an assessment of the educational needs in each school as is being recommended by the NLTA." Butler also points to the need for adequate supports for new technology which is being placed in schools and to a new approach to supervision in schools. "Part of the stress being placed on teachers is the non‑teaching duties which should be addressed. The education department needs to hire a sufficient number of technical support staff in our schools. Options should also be explored for dealing with the concerns related to the amount of time teachers spend supervising students and how this task could be done by non‑teaching personnel the way it is in other provinces." Other issues which the Liberal critic is concerned about include the need for additional support services in rural schools and the lack of substitute days for teachers. "Government should be looking at the way instructional grants are allocated and take action to address the denial of family leave, professional development leave, school-related leave and other types of leave as outlined in the teachers= collective agreement."
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