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

Police Identify Bhavkiran (Kiran) Dhesi As Young Woman Found Dead Inside Burned Vehicle In Surrey

Police Identify Bhavkiran (Kiran) Dhesi As Young Woman Found Dead Inside Burned Vehicle In Surrey
A bright young student who recently recovered from a kidney transplant and was finally able to live a normal life was murdered this week, leaving friends and family calling for justice.

Police Identify Bhavkiran (Kiran) Dhesi As Young Woman Found Dead Inside Burned Vehicle In Surrey

B.C. Asks Utilities Commission To Review $8.8-Billion Site C Dam Megaproject

B.C. Asks Utilities Commission To Review $8.8-Billion Site C Dam Megaproject
British Columbia's New Democrat government has requested an independent review of the $8.8-billion Site C dam, threatening thousands of construction jobs on what was a signature megaproject for former premier Christy Clark.

B.C. Asks Utilities Commission To Review $8.8-Billion Site C Dam Megaproject

B.C. Heat Wave Brings Record-Breaking Temperatures, Poor Air Quality

B.C. Heat Wave Brings Record-Breaking Temperatures, Poor Air Quality
VANCOUVER — Air quality across southern British Columbia remains poor as smoke from wildfires and a heat wave affect the region.

B.C. Heat Wave Brings Record-Breaking Temperatures, Poor Air Quality

Man Who Shot And Killed Wife In Alberta Hostage-Taking Dies In Custody

Man Who Shot And Killed Wife In Alberta Hostage-Taking Dies In Custody
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — A man who took his estranged wife hostage before shooting her in the head in southern Alberta has died in custody in British Columbia.

Man Who Shot And Killed Wife In Alberta Hostage-Taking Dies In Custody

Federal NDP Hopefuls Hit B.C., Questioned On Reconciling Party Differences

Federal NDP Hopefuls Hit B.C., Questioned On Reconciling Party Differences
Federal NDP leadership hopeful Jagmeet Singh felt compelled during Wednesday's debate in Victoria to tack on an adjective to what he considers a key difference between the New Democrat governments in Alberta and British Columbia.

Federal NDP Hopefuls Hit B.C., Questioned On Reconciling Party Differences

B.C. Court Orders Insurance Firm To Pay For Man's Emergency Surgery In U.S.

B.C. Court Orders Insurance Firm To Pay For Man's Emergency Surgery In U.S.
VICTORIA — An insurance company that refused to pay for a British Columbia man's emergency heart surgery has been ordered by a B.C. Supreme Court judge in Victoria to cover the US$180,000 bill.

B.C. Court Orders Insurance Firm To Pay For Man's Emergency Surgery In U.S.