Native programs threatened - educators

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Recent budget cuts by the Klein government could affect funding for Native education programs in the 1993-94 school year.

A five per cent decrease to the general education block next September, with an additional two per cent cut the following year will make it harder to maintain special programs at their current level.

"Ultimately, the decision will rest with the school boards," said Garth Norris, communications director for the Department of Education.

The Native education grant was eliminated and absorbed last May within the general education block. This left school boards with the option of using the funds where they deemed necessary.

Although there was an overall eight per cent cut to the block funding, concerned parents organized and both school boards maintained the previous years' level of funding for Native programming.

Louis Latmothe, president of the Ben Calf Robe Society hopes that the school board will remain sympathetic to the special needs of its Native students.

Lamothe is concerned with the literacy rates among the Aboriginal population, which he feels are much higher than that in the general population.

With so few jobs available in band offices and on reserve, many of the youths will have to look at coming to cities for work, he said. Lamothe is concerned that without extra initiatives, such as the programs currently in place, these students will have difficulty competing.

"If we want to make a difference then we must make this a priority at budget time, and bucks should follow priority," he said.

Brian Mitchell, a trustee for Edmonton Catholic Schools acknowledged the importance of the Native education program but isn't optimistic that it will escape this budget unscarred.

"They (Native programming staff) will be impacted certainly, but it's difficult to say how much until we do a full analysis.

In terms of collars, the cuts equal the wages of 175 staff positions, said Mitchell. Rollbacks or staff reductions will have to be used in order to fit within the budget.

John Cardinal, one of four liaison workers offering support services to 35 schools, is very concerned about how cuts will affect services.

Cardinal feels overworked. High caselods, house visits and presentations have already stretched support services as far as they can go while continuing to do an effective job, he said.

Edith Dalla Costa agrees. As a Native liaison worker she's been assigned 59 schools.

"It would be wonderful if we had two more workers in this office. A lower workload would mean more time could be spent with school and students," said Dalla Costa.

Last December, the Ben Calf Robe society sent a letter to Premier Klein outlining their concerns and offering solutions that could keep Native funding from falling to the axe.

"The intent of the letter was to ensure that no cuts are made to Native education funding and to suggest approaches that could be made to ensure the level of funding is maintained," said Lamothe.

The society received an acknowledgment from Klein's office stating that they can expect a detailed response early this year.