After analyzing the provincial education funding announcement made two weeks ago, the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation says Saskatchewan will potentially land in 10th place among all provinces when it comes to per-student funding in 2024-25.

In 2015-16, Statistics Canada says Saskatchewan had the highest school board operating spending per-student in the country, and by 2021-22, it had fallen to eighth place, representing a reduction $3,362 less per student after adjustment for inflation.

The STF says to maintain per-student funding at the 2015-16 level, per-student spending would need to increase by another 12 percent, or an additional $268 million on top of the already announced $180 million.

The release adds that supports for learning have declined over time, as well, from 15.1% in 2017-18 to 14% in 2024-25. This budget line is currently unrestricted, meaning that school boards can choose to use these funds for other purposes, such as servicing debt.

Teachers are still calling for the government to make a commitment to stable and sustainable funding for education, and over 4000 of them are taking to the Saskatchewan legislature today to make their voices heard.