Critics say new cash for student assistants doesn't go far enough to support schools

The Newfoundland and Labrador budget has set aside $3 million to fund more than 100 student assistant positions in the province's schools, but critics say the money will not be enough to address issues with class compositions and rising violence in the classroom.

Education Minister Krista Lynn Howell said Thursday the money is one of the most valuable investments in her portfolio, but NDP Leader Jim Dinn believes the funding isn't as good as it could be.

"We can do better," said Dinn. "And I think if the minister and the government are interested in addressing the violence in the classroom, you're going to have to look at ways of making sure that those resources are actually in the classroom."

Howell told reporters some of the assigned working hours for student assistants will be used to help students with the expansion of bus routes. The government announced in August it was phasing out a controversial rule that said students who live closer than 1.6 kilometres to their school weren't eligible to take the bus. 

While support is needed to help children with exceptionalities on the bus, said Dinn, the hours of support are also needed to address violence in classrooms. 

Dinn added that while having more assistants in classrooms is a good thing teachers and assistants are already stretched too thin with current class compositions.

PC education critic Paul Dinn was succinct in his analysis of the announcement.

"It helps, but it's certainly not going far enough," he said.

"The minister herself used the word 'stabilize' a number of times …what comes to mind is something that's in critical condition and you try and stabilize it before you improve it. And I think that's what's happening here."

Speaking with reporters before the Dinn brothers, Howell said the funding will help meet the needs of teachers and assistants in the classroom.

"These are individuals that play a very important role in our classrooms, and we wanted to make sure that that support was there," she said.

Howell said changes are also being made for both students and their assistants. Assistants will now get at least a five-hour day with students, which she said, which will stabilize the workforce and ensure students get more continuity.

Jerry Earle, the president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees, which represents the province's student assistants, called the investment a good step forward.

"They've always been saying, 'We have not been heard. We have not been listened to.'… [It's] a group in education that's often been parked on the back burner that's getting deserved attention. And we applaud that move."

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