Province-wide classroom challenges demand immediate investment and support
The Provincial Executive of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society (MTS), the President of Éducatrices et éducateurs francophones du Manitoba (ÉFM), and the Chair of the Council of School Leaders (COSL) will be gathering tomorrow at the Manitoba Legislature for an all-party lobby day focused on strengthening and protecting public education.
“This is an all-party lobby day because public education affects every Manitoban — every family, every community, and the future of the province itself,” said MTS President Lillian Klausen. “Teachers see firsthand how policy decisions affect students. Our message is simple: strong public schools are the foundation of a strong province — but they must be funded, supported, and protected accordingly.”
After nearly a decade of austerity, Manitoba public schools are still grappling with the long-term effects of chronic underfunding. At the same time, student needs have grown more complex, and the supports required to meet those needs have not kept pace.
Teachers report that these pressures have accelerated in recent years, leading to larger classes with more complex needs, decreased access to specialized supports, and increasing stress on educators and school communities. These conditions are contributing to an unprecedented convergence of challenges — including student mental-health needs, school violence, and difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified staff.
“These aren’t isolated issues,” Klausen added. “They are symptoms of a system stretched beyond capacity. When supports disappear, students feel it. Families feel it. Teachers feel it. And, ultimately, Manitoba feels it.”
Key Issues to be Presented to MLAs
- Restore Education Funding
Teachers urge the province to return to at least 65 per cent provincial funding, noting years of underfunding have strained classroom resources, supports, and services. - Protect Teacher-Led Literacy
MTS calls for literacy approaches designed by teachers, not vendor-driven screening tools, and for investments in reading specialists, smaller classes, and culturally responsive materials. - Address Rising School Violence
Educators report increased violence tied to unmet mental-health and behavioural needs, MTS is calling for more clinical services, behaviour teams, EAs, and counsellors. - Fix Class Size and Composition
Teachers stress that overcrowded, high-needs classrooms limit learning for all students. MTS urges strategic class composition planning to ensure every student has a fair chance to succeed. - Strengthen Recruitment and Retention
Teacher shortages persist. MTS calls for a modernized certification system and improved working conditions — planning time, supports, safety — to keep educators in the profession. - Stand Against Hate
Teachers urge MLAs to take a clear stance against hate targeting inclusive education and to support zero-tolerance policies, protections for educators, and support for book access and anti-censorship policies in libraries and classrooms.
A Shared Responsibility
The future of public education is not the responsibility of any one government or political party. It requires long-term commitment, stable investment, and collaboration across the political spectrum.
“Public education belongs to everyone,” Klausen said. “When we strengthen our schools, we strengthen Manitoba. We are asking all parties — regardless of political affiliation — to work with us to build the strong, well-funded, inclusive public education system that Manitoba students deserve.”
Listen to MTS President Lillian Klausen’s full interview with CJOB’s Richard Cloutier: