VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Despite common misperceptions, education spending on public schools across Canada increased over the most recent five-year period of available data, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.
“Contrary to the popular narrative that education spending has been cut, spending increases in public schools exceeds what was required to account for enrolment changes and inflation,” said Paige MacPherson, associate director of education policy at the Fraser Institute and co-author of Education Spending in Public Schools in Canada, Fall 2021.
After accounting for inflation, per-student spending increased in seven of ten provinces. Nova Scotia saw the largest increase (9.2 per cent), followed by Quebec (7.3 per cent) and Prince Edward Island (5.1 per cent). Ontario—the province with the highest total spending—saw a real per-student spending increase of 2.8 per cent.
Only Saskatchewan (-10.8 per cent), Newfoundland & Labrador (-9.9 per cent), and Alberta (-4.3 per cent) recorded decreases in inflation-adjusted per-student spending in public schools from 2014/15 to 2018/19.
In terms of per-student spending in public schools as of 2018-19, New Brunswick had the highest level at $15,486 while British Columbia had the lowest at $12,513. The national average was $14,070.
The study also finds compensation (salaries, wages, fringe benefits, and pensions) contributed the most to the total growth in spending nationally.
“Compensation increases – including teachers’ salaries, pensions, benefits and other costs – are driving the spending growth in Canadian public schools” MacPherson said.
“Before parents and taxpayers can begin to assess value for money in education, it’s crucial that they understand how much is being spent, and exactly where these dollars are going,” said MacPherson.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Paige MacPherson, Associate Director, Education Policy
Fraser Institute
To arrange media interviews or for more information, please contact:
Drue MacPherson, 604-688-0221 ext. 721, drue.macpherson@fraserinstitute.org
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The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal and ties to a global network of think-tanks in 87 countries. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for Canadians, their families and future generations by studying, measuring and broadly communicating the effects of government policies, entrepreneurship and choice on their well-being. To protect the Institute’s independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. Visit www.fraserinstitute.org
