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Gerry Reid, Opposition Education Critic and MHA for the District of
Twillingate-Fogo, says that government cutbacks to the province’s school
boards are creating chaos in the school system, especially as it relates to
the hiring of teachers. "Since government announced a reduction in the
number of school boards and teaching positions in the province, I have
received many phone calls from concerned teachers from all areas of
Newfoundland and Labrador," said Mr. Reid. "Many of our youngest teachers
have been bumped from their positions and are currently without work for the
upcoming school year. Many of these teachers have now decided to leave the
province in search of full-time work.
"I have also heard concerns regarding the current hiring practices of the
school boards. Due to rushed nature of government’s ill thought out
restructuring plan, many of the boards are rushing their hiring practices to
ensure positions are filled. This approach has not been working and the
interview process is not being completed in the proper manner. I have spoken
to a principal who is very upset that he was excluded from the interview
process. He now feels the teacher who received a job in his school is not
properly suited for the position for which that person was hired.
"There have also been cases where teachers without the proper
qualifications have been hired for specialized positions. Teachers without
special education degrees have been hired to teach special needs children.
French teachers have been hired who cannot speak french. Is this acceptable
while younger teachers with the proper qualifications are excluded?
"The current rushed process is not working. The Minister of Education
should not be forcing this new system for September to the detriment of our
students. Our young teachers and students are the ultimate people who will
suffer for this government’s ill prepared approach to revamping education in
our province. I suggest that the minister evaluate some of the current
hirings that have taken place to ensure that the most qualified people have
received these positions.
"If the school boards are not able to complete the process in the
appropriate manner, the minister should not insist everything be rushed to
meet a deadline. The most important thing is that our students get the best
education possible. I fear that the current approach is putting dollars and
cents ahead of the well-being of our young people." |