The provincial government is investing in transformational change to improve the services New Brunswickers depend on every day. Within the education system, Budget 2025-2026 contains $1.6 billion in funding to school districts to stabilize the education system by making sure there are enough teachers in classrooms and that students have the support they need to thrive - this represents an additional investment of $85 million.
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and the districts have been asked to lead transformative change by taking strategic steps to redistribute funding to strengthen in-classroom learning. To address this redirection, the province's seven school districts will redirect $43 million from district budgets back into classrooms.
Over 150 certified teachers currently in non-classroom roles will be redeployed into schools and classrooms to support students directly. The provincial government has identified a number of targets for improving literacy and numeracy skills. Having more teachers in classrooms will support students in reaching these targets and set them up for the future.
"Our government is providing the support needed to improve student learning and stabilize our classrooms," said Claire Johnson, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. "By redirecting resources to the frontlines, we will be better able to fund high-impact roles like Academic Support Teachers and Behaviour Intervention Mentors who will help to tackle the growing needs in literacy, numeracy, and behavioural support."
Budget 2025-26 also saw the following investments in New Brunswick's education system:
$32.4 million more for Educational Assistants and Behaviour Intervention Mentors
$16.4 million in additional funding to bring more teachers into our classrooms to support population growth
$4 million to increase the retention and recruitment of education professionals
$2.1 million for more Academic Support Teachers
$25 million to establish school breakfast and lunch programs
"These are difficult decisions. We know that this redirection of funds will result in staffing changes for districts," said Johnson. "These decisions are to ensure that we are supporting New Brunswick's teachers and students in the classroom for the improved results we all want to see."
