When students and staff return to school next week, they will find many new resources in place to improve student learning and the school environment.
Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Gerard Greenan says government is investing in several key areas of learning this year. “Some of these investments include the introduction of new courses and curricula, the purchase of thousands of new computers and teaching technologies, major upgrades to the school bus fleet, and significant additions to school library collections,” he said. “These resources, along with the 41 new teachers we are adding this year, will enhance the teaching and learning environment for years to come.”
New courses, programs and curricula are being introduced in several key areas such as the trades, social studies and mental math. A new International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is being introduced at Colonel Gray and Charlottetown Rural High School.
Over the summer months, more than 2,500 new computers were installed in intermediate and high schools. At a cost of over $2 million, these computers will give students greatly improved access to online learning resources. Over 350 new LCD projectors will allow teachers to prepare lessons and students to present work using multi-media presentations.
The 36 new school buses that were delivered over the summer will be on the road next week. Over 20 per cent of school buses in the active fleet are now brand new.
More than 10,000 new books are now arriving at school libraries. The books were purchased through a special school library investment which is in addition to existing annual library budgets. The new titles include non-fiction for boys, materials for reluctant readers, levelled literacy materials, resources to support curriculum, and texts that represent diversity and inclusion.
New resources have been added to support 400 new immigrant students who are expected to enter Island schools this fall and the 300 continuing EAL students who are returning. An expanded English-as-a-Second-Language Unit will be opening soon at the Atlantic Technology Centre. Approximately 25 school-based teachers and 20 itinerant teachers who travel from school to school have been added this year, as well as six specialized staff such as culture and language specialists and counsellors.
Curriculum-related student fees will continue to be reduced as part of government’s commitment to minimize these fees. For the first time, this year students in the Eastern School District will no longer be required to pay music instrument rental fees.
Government is providing funding and working closely with the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance to expand school breakfast programs and to enhance existing food programs in Island schools.
Projected enrollment in Prince Edward Island’s 70 public schools is expected to be 20,277 in 2008-2009, down slightly from 20,813 in 2007-2008. Approximately 1,300 children are enrolled in the provinces’s 85 kindergarten programs this fall.
The annual 2008-2009 budget for education and early childhood development is $194,273,500 which is $11 million more than last year. An additional capital budget of $15.3 million is also allocated for major projects such as the new Montague Regional High School and the expansion and renovation of Elm Street Elementary School.