NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION
NLTA welcomes new government and expects action on education promises

The Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association extends its congratulations to Premier-designate Tony Wakeham and his newly elected government and looks forward to working with them to implement the education commitments made by the Progressive Conservative party during the election campaign.

"Education is the foundation of the future of this province, and I am hopeful with a change in provincial government will come a renewed focus and investment in public education," said Dale Lambe, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association. "Throughout the course of this campaign, Premier-designate Wakeham made promises to educators and to the people of this province about improving education, and our Association will hold him and his party to those commitments."

In their platform document and in the NLTA Election Bulletin, the Progressive Conservatives committed to:

• Work directly with the NLTA to improve working conditions, reduce class sizes, and tackle school violence.
• Hire more teachers and classroom supports to reduce class sizes.
• Ensure that resource and specialist teachers are not pulled from their roles to cover shortages.
• Ensure that teaching units are no longer split beyond half-time.
• Improve students' access to school psychologists.
• Work with the NLTA to develop an action plan to address online harassment and aggression towards educators.
• Review the Education Accord and sit down with teachers and the NLTA to examine the recommendations.

"The NLTA looks forward to working with the newly elected government and the appointment of a new Minister of Education," said President Lambe. "Education must be treated as an investment, not an expense. Investments in our education system today will have tremendous positive impacts on our province's future, including its long-term economic outlook."