Reserve Schools Await Funding – The StarPhoenix

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Reserve schools await funding

No sign of $275M promised

By Jason Warick, The StarPhoenix September 5, 2012

Saskatchewan’s First Nations schools have received none of the $275 million pledged this spring by the federal government, a situation that has angered parents, teachers and school officials.

Schools in the Meadow Lake Tribal Council, for example, will have less funding than their provincial counterparts to pay teachers, help children with disabilities or fix leaky roofs.

“We wanted it to be different this time,” said Judy Okanee, director of education for the Meadow Lake Tribal Council.

“We’re still at the bottom of the pile. How fair is that for our students?”

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Premier Brad Wall, whose administration has been pressing the federal government about the large funding gap for on-reserve students, is also concerned.

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