Board Urged to Consider Full-Day Primary

Education and Culture Minister Wayne Gaudet today urged the Halifax Regional School Board to consider all options before deciding whether to eliminate full-day Primary for the next school year.

Making the announcement at St. Margarets Bay Elementary School, Mr. Gaudet said the education of young people is critically important from the first day they enter school. "As a parent and a former teacher, I am well aware of the value and benefits of offering full-day Primary to our children.

"My staff are working with the school board on options that would see full-day Primary in Halifax this September," the minister said. "Before discussing the details, I want the board to have full opportunity to consider the options at their meeting this week."

Mr. Gaudet recognized the board has some serious financial concerns and applauded them for its work, but he also pointed out that all school boards, with the exception of Halifax, currently offer full-day Primary within their existing budgets.

"As a province, our responsibility is to provide school boards with the funding they need to set priorities in educating children," he said. "We're meeting that responsibility."

Last year, education funding was increased by $82 million and the proposed budget tabled earlier this month called for a further increase of $60 million. This included an additional $12 million for the Halifax board this year, for a total funding increase to the board of more than $35 million since 1996-97.

The board is considering eliminating full-day Primary as a budgetary measure. It estimated by moving to an alternate-day schedule it could save $2.6 million each year. The board is expected to decide on the issue this week.