Acadian society still upset over education cuts

The Acadian Society of New Brunswick failed to secure any promises from the province to reinstate more education funds during a Monday meeting with Premier Shawn Graham and Education Minister Roland Hach.

Jean-Marie Nadeau, president of the Acadian society, emerged from the afternoon meeting saying he felt frustrated.

'We do not have that $8 million to put in that system in this moment, as I speak. So we had to say no.' Education Minister Roland Hach

Nadeau and a coalition of community groups asked the premier and minister to put $8 million back into the education department that was removed in the March budget.

But Nadeau said they got nothing out of the meeting.

"That's what saddens me. It's a political choice, but it's not my choice," Nadeau said.

"It's time to take decisions for the people of New Brunswick and for the children of New Brunswick."

Nadeau said he is going to continue to pressure the government to put the money back into the system. He also said he will meet with parents and plan further action in coming weeks.

The province's education minister viewed the meeting differently, however. Hach called the discussion positive, but said he can'tapprove the financialrequest put forward by the groups.

"We do not have that $8 million to put in that system in this moment, as I speak. So we had to say no," Hach said.

Last month, Hach reinstated nearly $3 million in cuts that were made by then Education Minister Kelly Lamrock in the 2009-10 budget.

When Hach put the $3 million back into the system, the move saved roughly 600 contract jobs for library assistants and education support staff across the province.

But Anne-Marie Gammon, a member of the francophone Federation of District Education Councils, said other jobs weren't saved in the system that are needed.

"If we want to continue to grow, if we want to give our children an equal chance of success all across Canada, we need these [educators] here," Gammon said.

"They're specialized teachers and they can be consultants to the teachers to help them improve the quality of the teaching that they're giving out."