Released on April 10, 2018
Saskatchewan students will continue to receive high-quality learning and support services in schools as funding is increased in the Ministry of Education’s 2018-19 Budget.
Saskatchewan’s 27 school divisions will receive $1.87 billion in school operating funding for the 2018-19 school year, an increase of $30 million or 1.6 per cent over last year. This increase will allow school divisions to continue to support students in the classroom by hiring up to 400 teachers and other educational support staff.
“The success of Saskatchewan students continues to be a top priority of our government,” Education Minister Gordon Wyant said. “Education provides children with the foundation they need to pursue their dreams and achieve their full potential.”
The 2018-19 Budget provides $2.5 billion for the Ministry of Education, which supports Prekindergarten to Grade 12 classrooms, early years and child care, libraries and literacy. The ministry’s budget reflects the change to provincial collection of Education Property Tax (EPT). EPT rates are unchanged in this year’s budget.
In addition to classroom learning, school infrastructure investments will total $76.4 million in the 2018-19 Budget.
This includes:
- $22.7 million to provide funding for two ongoing major school consolidation projects in Rosthern and Weyburn;
- $49.6 million for preventative maintenance, renewal and emergency funding, a 14.8 per cent increase over last year’s investment;
- $3.1 million for relocatable classrooms; and
- $1.0 million for school facility assessments.
Also within the 2018-19 Budget is $76.8 million for child care funding, which includes $20.8 million in new funding being provided by the Federal Government through the recently signed Canada-Saskatchewan Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. This child care funding will allow for the continued support of more than 16,000 licensed child care spaces and allow for the addition of 2,500 licensed child care spaces by 2020.
Saskatchewan’s libraries will also receive continued operating funding of $11.1 million, which includes $6.0 million in resource sharing funding for the seven regional libraries and $974,000 for Pahkisimon Nuye?áh in Northern Saskatchewan.
“We heard last year from the people of Saskatchewan about the importance of our libraries, which is why this budget continues to ensure libraries across the province are supported,” Wyant said.
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For more information, contact:
Rose Semchuk
Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5609
Email: rosann.semchuk@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-526-9345