Dramatic drop in school enrolment on P.E.I. to continue: report

There has been a dramatic drop in school enrolment on P.E.I. over the last 30 years, and it will continue to fall, according to a report released Thursday by the Department of Education.

Enrolment has dropped by a third since 1970. By 2017, the study predicts a further drop of 14 per cent, leaving 17 schools with less than 100 students each.

Harold Press, author of the report, doesn't recommend closing schools, but said something has to change.

"It seems to me that if there's one option, the status quo isn't it. I mean, we have to face the realities that are affecting us."

P.E.I.'s three boards will introduce plans for their schools by November, which could include closing some schools, thus ending a 10-year moratorium on closures that existed under then Premier Pat Binns.