Regina, Saskatoon school divisions see immigration-fueled enrolment spike

Immigration is boosting enrolment numbers across four of Saskatchewan's urban school divisions, and it continues to drive up the need for more English as an additional language (EAL) supports, educators say.

Regina Public Schools says its enrolment was26,259as of the end of September 864 more students than September 2022.

The division said its Newcomer Welcome Centre which assesses students new to Canada on their reading, writing and math skills has already registered more than 900 students so far this fall. That's more than half of the roughly 1,600 students it helped over the previous school year.

Gisele Carlson, Regina Public Schools' EAL co-ordinator, said those are the highest numbers the centre has seen in the last decade.

Regina Catholic Schools is also seeing a bump in students this year. Ithad13,270 students as of Sept. 30 916 more than the year before.

A spokesperson said the division doesn't have a breakdown of newcomer students at this point, but said anecdotally, "the number is unusually high" with 607 children were assessed at its welcome centre between July and October.

To keep up with demand andavoid a backlog in Regina Public Schools, Carlsonsaid her team has had to occasionally pull EAL teachers from schools to help with assessments.

"The assessment is important to give the teachers some information about the student before they come so that they know what kinds of supports might be necessary," Carlson said.

"The whole process is really to support families and help them understand, so they can make the best decisions for their children."

Gurpreet Kaur says two of her children have benefited from getting an assessment.

She and her husband, along with their three children, came to Regina from New Delhi, India, last month. About a week later after co-ordinating with the Regina Open Door Society, which the centre also works with their two eldest kids got in for an assessment, and were also able to get some questions answered about everyday life in Saskatchewan.

"They gave me the knowledge of everything so I can do this," Kaur said with a smile.

Saskatoon's schools are also seeing enrolment increases this year.Saskatoon Public Schools had28,256 students as of Sept. 30 an increase of1,078 over September 2022.Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools had22,089students, up 1,590 from last year.

Saskatoon Public said its Newcomer Student Centre has already assessed 732 studentsso far this school year.

WATCH|Regina, Saskatoon school divisions see immigration-fueled enrolment spike:

Regina, Saskatoon school divisions see immigration-fueled enrolment spike

12 months ago

Duration 2:05

Immigration is boosting enrolment numbers across four of Saskatchewan's urban school divisions.

Saskatoon's Catholic division said itsNewcomer Welcome Centre has assessed551 students this year.

"Families new to Canada continue to be a significant factor in overall growth, accounting for 1,495 students," the division said, noting that growth was between October 2022 and the end of September.

Carlson said Regina Public has at least one EAL teacher in all of its eight high schools, but only 15 across its 44 elementary schools. She'd like to see at least five more hired.

"A few years ago, during COVID, we felt pretty confident that we had a good amount of support. But since then, we've had huge increases [in newcomer enrolment] and we haven't been able to increase the EAL support, so that then falls on classroom teachers," Carlson said.

"I'm confident that teachers are doing the best they can. But a student who needs English support may be struggling a little bit, having to maybe do more homework at home, more work on their own or maybe asking their friends for help."

The Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation (STF) said it's been hearing about similar situations from school divisions across the province.

STF president Samantha Becotte said the latest government data shared with the federation from 2021 showed there was roughly one EAL teacher per 140 EAL students.

However, she noted that the ratio is likely more dramatic today.

"It means fewer supports for classroom teachers supporting English as an additional language students and less time for those students to get those supports that they need," Becotte said.

The federation'slatest bargaining proposal to the province includes an ask for more money to hire more EAL teachers, she noted.

In an emailed statement, the Ministry of Education said it's still reviewing and verifying the enrolment data it was provided with from school divisions at the end of September.

The ministry also pointed to the $40-million funding boost it gave divisions last June, which it said was "to support enrolment growth and the complexity of today's classrooms."

LISTEN |Saskatoon Public Schools' superintendents weigh in on influx of students:

Saskatoon Morning9:48More than 28,000 kids are attending public schools in our city

Almost 1,100 more kids are attending public school than last year.Host Leisha Grebinski talks with Mitch Kachur and Colleen Norris, superintendents of education with Saskatoon Public Schools, on how the influx of children is impacting the school system.