Day 2 of province-wide teachers’ strike
The province-wide teachers’ strike was initiated with a one-day strike on Tuesday, January 16, and extended to include a second day of school closures on Monday, January 22nd. The Board of Education of Sun West School Division sent out a notice to parents of students to inform them of the strike.
The Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation made the decision to withdraw all professional and voluntary services for the entire day, and neither enter or report to their places of work. All school buses and extra-curricular activities were also cancelled for the day.
Teachers are calling for the Minister to reverse nearly a decade of underfunding in public schools and invest in the resources that students across Saskatchewan desperately need to support their learning.
In 2022-23, there was one social worker for every 2,588 students; one psychologist for every 2,904 students; and one speech language pathologist for every 1,413 students. Between 2007-08 and 2018-19, the number of students requiring intensive support grew by 38 percent, while the number of specialists decreased. Due to underfunding and budget cuts, caseloads for these professionals have become unmanageable and the support that many students rely on is inaccessible.
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Samantha Becotte, President of the Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation stated on social media, “We’re asking you to join with teachers for a day of action. We don’t want to take this action. We want to be in our schools and classrooms supporting our students. Call Premier Scott Moe and let him know that it’s time that this government fix the crisis in education that they’ve created. The government’s refusal to engage in meaningful conversation and make long-term commitments that will support student experiences in schools across the province, has left us with no other choice.”
The teachers continue to call for the Minister to reverse nearly a decade of underfunding in public schools and invest in the resources that students across Saskatchewan desperately need to support their learning.
Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation (STF) reported in 2022-23, there was one social worker for every 2,588 students; one psychologist for every 2,904 students; and one speech language pathologist for every 1,413 students. Between 2007-08 and 2018-19, the number of students requiring intensive support grew by 38 percent, while the number of specialists decreased. Due to underfunding and budget cuts, caseloads for these professionals have become unmanageable and the support that many students rely on is inaccessible.
Now STF says they are done talking and are taking action. Becotte said, “Government refused to move from their opening positions or even entertain negotiating about critical learning and working conditions that impact students, teachers and parents - issues like class size and classroom violence.”