Government should be 'ashamed' after band program cut: NDP

Following the elimination of a band program at the Prairie Spirit School Division, the Opposition NDP is criticizing the Saskatchewan Party over education spending.

On Wednesday, the NDP called for the reinstatement of a mid-year adjustment that funded enrolment growth and for a solution to any funding problems before the start of the school year.

Trent Wotherspoon, NDP deputy leader and education critic, said that school boards and childrenaren't benefiting from the government's high revenues.

"In the case of Prairie Spirit School Division, they've been forced to eliminate the band program and the Sask. Party should be absolutely ashamed of that," Wotherspoon is quoted as saying in a news release.

• Prairie Spirit School Division cuts band program

He also said that classes are getting more crowded and children don't have access to enough one-on-one attention or educational assistants.

In the case of Prairie Spirit School Division, they've been forced to eliminate the band program and the Sask. Party should be absolutely ashamed of that- Trent Wotherspoon, Saskatchewan NDP deputy leader and education critic

He said that the government is spending too much on consultants instead of schools, teachers and programs such as band.

ThePrairie Spirit School Division replaced its band program, which was in place in 17 out of 45 schools in the division, with a more general music curriculum.

In a written letter to parents, the school division attributed the cancellation to a "major financial shortfall." On Tuesday, the division released a statement that said there is a provincial funding shortfall of $7.1 million.

Government responds

Education Minister Don Morgansent out a statement Wednesday responding to these charges.

He said he was disappointed to hear of the eliminated band program, but school divisions are independently responsible for the allocation of their funds.

"It would be our expectation that the board consulted with their school communities before making decisions such as this one," Morgansaid.

Morgan also said that since 2007, funding to the Prairie Spirit School Division has gone upfrom $79 million to more than $103 million, which Morgan says outpaces the enrolment rate for the same period.

With respect to the NDP point about mid-year adjustment, Morgansaid that the NDP never funded current-year enrolment growth and that the Saskatchewan Party has made an effort to do so when the budget permits.

In addition, Morgansaidthere are 21 more educational assistants today than under the NDP in 2006.

"Despite investing almost a billion dollars to create new classrooms and repair existing ones since 2007, we know there is more work to do," Morgansaid. "While there are pressures, we are working to address those."