Released on March 20, 2019
The provincial government is supporting Saskatchewan students by increasing funding for classrooms, libraries, community-based organizations and early learning programs in the Ministry of Education’s 2019-20 Budget.
The 2019-20 Budget provides $2.48 billion for the Ministry of Education, which supports Prekindergarten to Grade 12 classrooms, early learning and child care, libraries and literacy.
Saskatchewan’s 27 school divisions will receive $1.9 billion in school operating funding for the 2019-20 school year, an increase of $26.2 million over last year’s $1.87 billion budget.
“We know the importance of education in our province and we have heard from people across Saskatchewan about what they need in their communities,” Education Minister Gordon Wyant said. “As a result of those conversations, we will not only be maintaining operating funding, we are increasing it, outpacing enrollment growth.”
In addition to classroom learning, school infrastructure investments will increase by nearly $20 million over last year to total $95.6 million in the 2019-20 Budget.
This includes:
- $3.0 million to provide planning and design funding for the following new major capital projects:
- a joint-use replacement of Ecole St. Pius X Elementary School and Argyle Elementary School in Regina; and
- a joint-use replacement and consolidation of Sacred Heart, St. Mary Elementary Schools, Empire and Westmount schools in Moose Jaw;
- $250,000 to determine the scope of a replacement school for St. Frances Elementary in Saskatoon Catholic School Division;
- $29 million to provide funding for two ongoing major school consolidation projects in Rosthern and Weyburn;
- $55.9 million for preventative maintenance, renewal and emergency funding;
- $6.4 million for relocatable classrooms; and
- $1.0 million for school facility assessments.
Also within the 2019-20 Budget is $72.6 million for child care. This includes $57.6 million in provincial funding, an increase of $1.6 million over last year. The change includes an increase in funding to community-based organizations. In addition, $15.1 million is being provided by the Federal Government through the Canada-Saskatchewan Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.
In 2019-20, the Ministry of Education is increasing funding for the Early Childhood Intervention Program to $4.3 million, an increase of $300,000 over last year’s funding.
Saskatchewan’s public libraries will also receive increased funding, with a one per cent lift to increase total funding to $11.2 million.
In 2019-20, the Ministry of Education will provide an additional $709,000 to community-based organizations intended for salaries.
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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