August 14th, 2017

Wynne’s ‘Tory-style’ education funding leaving kids behind: NDP Education Critic

Today, NDP Education critic Peggy Sattler released the following statement in response to the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario report on education funding in Ontario: 

“Today's report by the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario highlights what too many students and parents already know: years of successive Conservative and Liberal governments have created an education system that is failing our children.

The report shows just how out of touch Kathleen Wynne is. She just doesn’t get it. Minor tweaks to an education system designed by Conservatives will continue to fail students, and leave families scrambling to fill the gaps.

Special education funding is completely disconnected from students' needs, leaving many kids without even the basic services they need to thrive. Grants that were intended to give at-risk youth and students from low income backgrounds a leg up fall short of what’s needed and are often diverted for other uses. Rural and Northern schools continue to be shut down by Wynne, forcing students to be bused further away from home, and stripping towns of vital community spaces.

A New Democratic government will ground special education funding in the needs of students and ensure every child starts with their best foot forward. And we will ensure there's a full review of education funding to create a system that works for students, families and educators. Until then, Andrea Horwath and Ontario’s New Democrats will continue calling on Wynne to freeze school closures, and fund classrooms and kids properly.”