Nova Scotia students struggling with literacy and math despite government’s big spending

HALIFAX – Today, Official Opposition Leader Claudia Chender made the following statement on today’s Auditor General report on provincial student assessments:

“Today’s Auditor General report raises serious questions about the Houston government’s approach to education. While spending per student has increased by 31 per cent since 2021, students continue to fall behind national averages in reading and math – impacting their confidence, their success in other subjects, and their opportunities later in life.

Every parent wants the very best for their kids. Nova Scotian families expect government money spent on education to translate into better supports in classrooms and better outcomes for kids. This report proves that test results aren’t being used to inform where this money should go.

Clearly, pushing money out the door without a plan to improve results for students isn’t working. It’s not working for our kids, for parents or for teachers. The Houston government has been taking this failed approach for five years and we’re all paying the price.

At the same time, parents need accountability in our educational system. The former Liberal government eliminated elected school boards, taking an important voice away from parents and communities. The Houston government promised to bring them back, but that promise remains broken five years later. Parents deserve a real voice in their children’s education, and Nova Scotians deserve to know that the billions being spent on education are actually improving outcomes for students.

The Houston government needs to act on the Auditor General’s recommendations quickly, set clear and measurable goals for improving student outcomes, and finally keep its promise to restore elected school boards so parents can have a say in their children’s education.”

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