Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, said teachers are seeing rising mental health challenges this fall, including social-emotional issues, academic loss and behavioural issues.Article content
When schools shut down in March 2020, Alberta Education rolled back $128 million from school boards to fund the province’s COVID response instead, a cut that impacted 20,000 jobs across Alberta, mostly in support staff from educational assistants to counsellors and psychologists.Article content “When students are not getting the supports they need, anxiety and depression becomes even more difficult,” Schilling said, explaining that can eventually manifest into low attendance, dropping out and not graduating.Article content
Rebecca Polak, press secretary to the premier, explained that during her leadership campaign, Smith was focused on pandemic-related impacts to students including learning loss, mental health issues and the need for more educational assistants in classrooms.Article content She added that Budget 2022 will provide $110 million over the next three years to support student well-being and the department of health will roll out $87 million over the next three years to improve access to mental health and paediatric rehabilitation supports for children and youth.
Pathetic liar slimy sleazy weasel snakeoil saleswoman spinner DS only supports her stupid backers