'You've been heard': Sask. premier says province will provide more money for classrooms

"You've been heard."

Premier Scott Moe spoke those words Monday afternoon at the Saskatchewan legislature when asked for his response to a rally organized by the Saskatchewan Teacher's Federation (STF) on Saturday.

The rally for public education drew a crowd of more than 3,500 people, according to the STF. They demanded the Government of Saskatchewan increase funding for classrooms. 

Teachers are calling for more money to keep up with inflation, enrolment and the complex needs of some students. Premier Moe said more funding is coming, specifically to address enrolment pressures in Regina and Saskatoon classrooms, but did not say exactly when.

"Although I don't know when we would make that announcement … going into the fall we most certainly want the funds to be available for that planning that needs to happen," Moe said. 

"We're going to work as expeditiously as we can, but we need to sit down and and continue to work alongside the school divisions."

Minister of Education Dustin Duncan appeared on CBC's The Morning Edition with host Stefani Langenegger Monday morning to discuss the calls for funding. Duncan did not attend the rally.

He said teachers were focused on securing a salary increase.

"Keep in mind the largest inflationary pressure, single inflationary pressure for school divisions … the single largest driver is the teachers' contract. That's their biggest single expense," Duncan said. 

"We have a contract that's ending with the teachers … in August. And so they're motivated, obviously, to show their support for their sector and so, you know, I wasn't surprised at that."

Andrew Stevens, a business professor at the University of Regina who specializes in labour relations, said wage increases are certainly part of what the STF wants, but that working conditions for teachers are also learning conditions for students. 

"I think it's critically important that organized labour thinks about the public well-being front and centre and not just securing wage increases. And frankly, as someone who was there, I saw a real concern for the general well-being of students and the knowledge economy in Saskatchewan," said Stevens, who is also a Regina city councillor.

But Stevens said the STF needs to be clear going forward about exactly what it wants to see in education budgets. 

Opposition NDP Leader Carla Beck was also at the rally. She said she welcomes the commitment to an in-year adjustment for school divisions, but that the problems with education funding are deeper than a one or two-year adjustment.