PROVINCE CONTINUES TO INVEST IN YOUNG PEOPLE

The Government of Saskatchewan will continue to invest in PreK-12 education in a balanced, sustainable way to ensure the province achieves affordable growth moving forward.

"Our government has worked very hard to fund education because we understand the essential role it plays in our province's future and the importance of preparing our young people for success," Deputy Premier and Education Minister Ken Krawetz said.

The overall funding for school divisions will increase by $33 million or 2.1 per cent in 2010-11.

This year the government is investing $17.2 million for school capital. This brings its three-year total to a record $328 million investment in the province's K-12 education infrastructure.

This budget also provides $2 million for 235 additional child care spaces and 18 new Prekindergarten programs. This will bring the total number of licensed child care spaces at the end of 2010-11 to approximately 11,650 and the total number of Prekindergarten programs to 230.

In the past two and a half years, the government has advanced 28 major school capital projects, including six recently announced school projects to address the most critical space issues in the province, and close to 400 additional, smaller projects. Over the last two years, the government has also provided funding for more than 2,900 new childcare spaces and 75 Prekindergarten spaces.

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For more information, contact:

Jill Welke
Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5609
Email: jill.welke3@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-535-2261