Our provincial government has announced more funding for Manitoba schools.
The Manitoba government is allocating more than $20 million to build on previous investments that strengthen student support and learning across kindergarten to Grade 12 schools in the upcoming school year. Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Wayne Ewasko made that announcement Thursday morning.
"Throughout the pandemic, teachers and school staff have worked hard to engage students, be nimble and keep everyone as safe as possible," says Ewasko. "We have heard directly from school divisions what they need to move forward and we are supporting those needs with this funding and provincial planning."
The minister says this additional funding will help schools continue to address student learning with a focus on re-engaging students whose learning has been most disrupted during the pandemic.
In response to consultations with school divisions across the province and as part of the government's implementation of actions in Manitoba's K to 12 Education Action Plan, this $20 million fund will prioritize:
- investments in literacy and numeracy;
- mental health and well-being;
- student re-engagement; and
- additional supports for students with diverse learning needs.
The province will allocate:
- $11 million on a per-pupil basis to give school divisions and schools the flexibility to direct funding as needed;
- $9 million in targeted investments for students and schools most affected by the pandemic including funding to support those with delayed entry and students returning from home-school arrangements; and
- $200,000 to the Pembina Trails and St. James-Assiniboia school divisions to offer free credit recovery summer school programming for Manitoba high school students through InformNet.
In addition to the $20 million in funding announced today, $3 million has been dedicated toward Teachers' Idea Fund proposals that emphasize mental health and well-being. This includes initiatives that focus on social and emotional learning, and provide enhanced mental health resources and support for the students and staff in schools.
The minister notes today's announcement demonstrates Manitoba's commitment to sustained educational funding. This builds on the previously announced $127 million funding increase for the upcoming school year, bringing the total increase to nearly $150 million, including:
- $77 million in one-time funding to assist with financial pressures;
- $43 million increase to the annual funding for public and independent schools; and
- $7 million increase towards special needs education.
"Building on the recovery learning initiatives which began last year and in responding to the recommendations of the Office of the Auditor General's audit, we will work collaboratively with schools and school divisions to be better prepared for similar challenges in the future while ensuring continuity of learning is paramount," says Ewasko.