28 teaching positions eliminated at English board

Twenty-eight teaching positions are being eliminated at P.E.I.'s English Language School Board, and a further 13 positions at the board and Department of Education levels.

News of the cuts comes in the wake of the provincial budget, released Friday. The grant to the English Language School Board was up less than one per cent, not enough to cover the cost of inflation.

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The administrative job cuts include seven at the school board office and six with the Education Department.

The province says the teaching positions will be eliminated through attrition. Forty teachers are expected to retire this year, and only 12 of them be replaced with new hires.

Further blow to a hurting system, say teachers

P.E.I. Teachers' Federation president Gilles Arsenault says the federation heard about the loss of the positions over the weekend.

He said the cuts will have an impact on students.

"Teachers are working so hard and yet again we're cutting in the teaching profession," said Arsenault.

"It's going to have a significant impact on students and their families."

Arsenault said the education system is already hurting.

The seven jobs being eliminated at the school board office were part of curriculum delivery, work that will be done directly by the provincial department.

A further half dozen jobs at the education department are also gone. Staff in those positions have moved to other government jobs.

Question of the day: Do the cuts in teacher positions and education administration concern you?