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Spending on public schools across Canada has increased more than necessary to offset the effects of higher enrollment and inflation, totaling billions of dollars in additional spending, according to a recent study. I understand.
“Contrary to what we often hear, spending has increased in public schools across Canada, and in most cases it has outpaced inflation and changes in enrollment,” study co-authors said. said Jake Fuss, Associate Director of Financial Studies at the Fraser Institute.and news release October 6th.
A study entitled “”Education Costs in Canadian Public Schools, 2022 EditionBetween 2012-13 and 2019-20, before COVID-19-related spending began, 7 out of 10 states saw an increase in spending on public schools.
The authors calculated that amount increased from $61.5 billion to $72.5 billion over the period, representing a 17.8% increase in nominal spending ($11 billion).
“If inflation-adjusted spending per student had remained constant from 2012/13 to 2019/20, total spending would have declined by 1.2%,” they wrote, adding that It said adjusted spending was $71.6 billion.
However, this 1.2% difference means that between 2012-13 and 2019-20, total public school spending on education was 800 million more than needed nationwide to explain changes in enrollment and inflation. The author points out that it means that it exceeded $98 million.
According to the study, the number of students enrolled in public schools increased by 4.1% over the period, from about 5.05 million to 5.25 million, and inflation-adjusted spending per student increased by 1.4% from $13,601 to $13,794. Increased.
“In order to properly assess Canada’s public education spending, we analyzed the impact of price changes (inflation) and enrollment increases and decreases by province,” the study said.
“In other words, after accounting for the impact of changes in admissions and prices, Canada increased spending per student by $194 over this period.”
At the state level, Nova Scotia recorded the largest increase (17.5%), with an additional $2,241 increase in spending per student. Second place was Prince Edward Island (17.2%), followed by Quebec (12.7%), Newfoundland and Labrador (7.6%) and British Columbia (9%).
However, spending per student decreased in three states: Saskatchewan (-14.2%), Alberta (-12.6%) and Ontario (-1.3%).
Compensation, including salaries, wages and pensions, accounted for the largest proportion of spending on public schools from 2012–13 to 2019–20, the authors said, when compared to capital and other spending. increase.
“In any important policy debate, especially one that affects children’s education, it’s important to understand exactly what’s going on with spending in public schools,” Fass said.
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Isaac Teo is a Toronto-based reporter for the Epoch Times.
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