Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Hundreds Of Syrian Refugees Add Costs For New Brunswick Schools

The Canadian Press, 25 Aug, 2017 12:53 PM
  • Hundreds Of Syrian Refugees Add Costs For New Brunswick Schools
FREDERICTON — The sudden influx of Syrian refugees into New Brunswick's school system has caused the province's Education Department to miss a financial target.
 
But Premier Brian Gallant says in this case, that's not a bad problem to have.
 
About 650 Syrian students have enrolled in New Brunswick schools during the two-year wave of refugees that have come to Canada.
 
Gallant says that has stemmed a steady decline in student enrolment that goes back to 1991.
 
"To have more students in our schools than we originally budgeted for is a very good challenge to have. It's to the point where it's one of the first times we've seen enrolment in our schools really level off from one year to the next," Gallant said Thursday.
 
 
According to department statistics, there were almost 141,000 students in New Brunswick schools in 1991. Last year that number was about 98,000 students.
 
The province is to release a quarterly financial report Friday, and The Canadian Press has learned the government is meeting most of its cost-cutting objectives, but not in education.
 
A government source says the Education Department is $3.5 million under target, mainly due to the additional resources needed to handle the increase in students.
 
School districts had to add teachers, assistants and translators in an effort to handle the additional students and language challenges.
 
Gallant said while there are some additional expenses now, they will pay off in the long term.
 
 
"It is good to have more people. We need New Brunswickers to be able to stay here with good jobs. We need New Brunswickers to come back here for opportunities and we also need to welcome new Canadians," he said.

MORE National ARTICLES

Wish You Were Here: European Police Send Postcards To Most Wanted Criminals

Wish You Were Here: European Police Send Postcards To Most Wanted Criminals
The summer postcard campaign by the European police agency was unveiled on its EU Most Wanted website as part of its ongoing initiative to hunt down 21 of Europe’s most wanted criminals.

Wish You Were Here: European Police Send Postcards To Most Wanted Criminals

B.C. Man Charged With Sexual Assault For Allegedly Not Disclosing HIV Status

B.C. Man Charged With Sexual Assault For Allegedly Not Disclosing HIV Status
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — A Vancouver-area man has been charged with three counts of aggravated sexual assault for allegedly having unprotected sex without disclosing his HIV status.

B.C. Man Charged With Sexual Assault For Allegedly Not Disclosing HIV Status

Hot, Smoky Conditions Forecast To Persist In B.C. Ahead Of Long Weekend

Hot, Smoky Conditions Forecast To Persist In B.C. Ahead Of Long Weekend
VANCOUVER — British Columbia is in store for another day of poor air quality due to smoke from persistent wildfires.

Hot, Smoky Conditions Forecast To Persist In B.C. Ahead Of Long Weekend

Byelection for New Vancouver School Board Set for October

Byelection for New Vancouver School Board Set for October
Education Minister Rob Fleming says a byelection will be held in October to restore the Vancouver School Board.

Byelection for New Vancouver School Board Set for October

B.C. Government Brings Back Human Rights Commission After 15 Years

B.C. Government Brings Back Human Rights Commission After 15 Years
VANCOUVER — British Columbia's NDP government is bringing back the province's human rights commission, which was scuttled by the previous Liberal regime in 2002.

B.C. Government Brings Back Human Rights Commission After 15 Years

B.C. Wildfire Season Worst In Six Decades, Still Far From Over: Official

B.C. Wildfire Season Worst In Six Decades, Still Far From Over: Official
VANCOUVER — This year's wildfire season has become British Columbia's worst in six decades, and a provincial spokesman says the action is far from over.

B.C. Wildfire Season Worst In Six Decades, Still Far From Over: Official