Manitoba Teachers’ Society Brings Public Education Funding Concerns to Legislature for All-party Lobby Day
Manitoba’s public schools are being asked to do more with less while the provincial government has increased funding to independent schools by 14.8 per cent this year, compared with a 3.5 per cent increase in public school funding.
Today – World Teachers’ Day – that funding gap will be front and centre as The Manitoba Teachers’ Society (MTS) brings its concerns to the legislature for an all-party lobby day.
MTS provincial executive members will meet with MLAs from all parties to call for increased investment in public education and advocate for funding priorities that reflect the growing needs of students.
The province’s 2026-27 funding announcement provided $16.6 million more to independent schools, while public school operating funding increased by $51 million, or 3.5 per cent – a level that trails current inflation and may prove increasingly inadequate amid ongoing economic uncertainty.
At the same time, Manitoba’s public schools are facing growing classroom complexity, teacher shortages, unmet student needs and increasing violence against educators.
“Teachers are being asked to do more with less while millions are flowing to independent schools. About 90 per cent of Manitoba students attend public schools. We have to ask whether this is the right priority for Manitoba students,” said Lillian Klausen, president of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society.
MTS is calling for a review of the province’s funding of independent schools and greater transparency about how public dollars are allocated.
“Public schools don’t get to turn students away. They are expected to meet the needs of every student who walks through the door, and they don’t charge tuition. There is no ability to simply raise additional funds to meet the diverse needs of the student population,” Klausen said.
According to a 2026 MTS membership survey, 80 per cent of educators report that classroom complexity has increased over the past five years. Nearly half (48 per cent) now have more than six students with complex needs in their classroom – up from 8.1 per cent in 2017 and 23 per cent in 2024.
Students are paying the price for provincial underfunding when educators do not have the staffing, resources and supports they need to meet increasingly complex student needs.
The shortage of certified teachers is also adding to the pressure. Teacher shortages and unmet student needs mean students can wait longer for support while educators face increasing workloads and burnout.
“If we have limited education dollars, we should be asking where those dollars can have the greatest impact for students. Right now, the need in our public schools is undeniable,” Klausen said.
The need for increased funding is the focus of MTS’s You Do The Math campaign, which highlights the pressures facing Manitoba classrooms: unmet student needs, rising mental health concerns, increasing violence against educators and teacher shortages.
“How much is enough funding? Enough is as much as it takes to ensure students have properly staffed classrooms, timely access to supports, and educators have the time and resources to help every student reach their potential,” Klausen said.
“Teachers know what is happening in their classrooms. They are telling us the system is under strain. Government needs to listen – and it needs to fund accordingly.”
Today, MTS representatives will bring that message directly to the legislature, calling on MLAs from all parties to support increased investment in public education and funding that reflects the actual needs of Manitoba’s students.