The provincial government is increasing funding for education in the 2019-20 budget. In all, $2.48 billion is being allocated to the Ministry of Education, which supports everything from early childhood learning and childcare to Grade 12, as well as libraries and literacy programs.

The province’s 27 school divisions, including the South East Cornerstone Public School Division and the Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division here in Weyburn, are receiving $1.9 billion for operating funding. This is up from last year by $26.2 million.

In addition to the money for operating the schools in the province, there is an additional $95.6 million for infrastructure. Here in the southeast, this includes money for the Weyburn Elementary School. There will be $29 million provided for Weyburn and Rosthern, another community with a school consolidation project.

There is also $55.9 million for preventative maintenance, renewal and emergency funding, with $6.4 million for portable classrooms and $1.0 million for facility assessments. There is no breakdown at this time as to how much of the money will be allocated for the school divisions here in southeast Saskatchewan.

When it comes to childcare, the budget includes $72.6 million, of which, $57.6 million is from the provincial government, and $15 million from the federal government. Funding for Early Childhood Intervention programs is up by $300,000 to $4.3 million and public libraries are receiving a one percent funding increase to $11.2 million.

The funding for libraries includes $6 million for the seven regional library systems, such as the Southeast Regional Library. Another $2.8 million will be used for access to library service, and for infrastructure needs such as internet connectivity and the Single Integrated Library System.

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