Manitoba spends another $3M to hire 50 new teachers

The Manitoba government is putting another $3 million towards hiring more teachers and keeping class sizes small for kindergarten to Grade 3.

Education and Advanced Learning Minister Peter Bjornsonmade the announcement Thursday as he toured the brand new Amber Trails community school in Winnipeg.

"With smaller class sizes, teachers can give students more one-on-one time in the critical early years to improve student learning so that parents see results,Bjornson said.

Smaller classes provide teachers more time to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each student to help them build the skills they need to succeed.

In 2011, the Manitoba government announced it would provide new supports to enable school divisions to cap kindergarten to Grade 3 classrooms at 20 students by September 2017.

More than 300 additional teachers have been hired across the province since 2011, which has resulted in:

• 353 more kindergarten to Grade 3 classes.
• 633 more kindergarten to Grade 3 classes with 20 or fewer students.
• The reduction of 327 kindergarten to Grade 3 classes with 24 or greater students, representing a 52 per cent reduction in the largest classes.

There are also a number ofinfrastructure investments currently underway, including48 classroom renovations and additions at 22 schools, and the construction of five new schools including the Amber Trails one.