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Education Minister speaks in Prince Albert The provincial government will allocate funds for new schools where they are needed, not where they might be politically popular, education minister Chris ard said last week. Mr. Ward addressed a meeting April 5 of the Durham East Liber- al Association, held at the com- munity hall in Prince Albert. CHRIS WARD On the issue of capital fund- ing for new schools, Mr. Ward said the provincial government doesn't have the $1.5 billion that has been requested this year by schools boards across Ontario. The allocations this year will be announced by the end of this month, he said, and areas of growth, like Durham Region, can expect to get their fair share of the money available. There are six other Regions in the province currently experienc- ing strong population growth, and at one point during his address he termed the situation here "critical." In the past three years, he said, capital funding has tripled. "We are trying to keep up," he said, noting that last year, $226 million was allocated for new school construction. Mr. Ward spoke for about 20 minutes and touched generally on several education matters, includ- ing streaming. He said he's not prepared to pass judgement on streaming based on one report: the recent study by George Radwanski who recommends that streaming. in high school be done away with. However, the government is committed to finding ways to re- duce the current high school drop- out rate of 33 per cent, a figure he said is a "tragic loss of human po- tential." /While changes in the educa- tion system may be necessary, he said there is much that is good about education in Ontario and the system does not need to be "detonated." Mr. Ward said that individual boards and even teachers have come up with innovative ideas and programs that have reduced their drop out rate at certain schools in the province to well below the 33 per cent average. And he repeated the govern- ment injtiative to reduce the pri- mary (grade 1 and 2) pupil/teacher ratio to 20:1 by 1990. He said this fall, 1000 new teachers will be hired as the first step in reduc- ing the classroom sizes to this level by 1990, and the total cost will be $300 million. The meeting was attended mostly by Liberals from Durham east riding, several.teachers were in the audience, along with Scu- gog trustee Joyce Kelly and Cath- olic Board chairman Tia Wood- croft. Mrs. Woodcroft and Mrs. Kel- ly both told the Star later they went to the meeting to listen, and not necessarily to button-hole the Minister about specific issues or problems in Durham Region. . Mrs. Woodcroft said she ap- preciates the Minister's comments that he is prepared to listen to people's concerns "at the grass roots level." And she noted that the further reducations in primary PTR is fine, but it will put even more pressure on Durham schools for addtional class room space. Mrs. Kelly told the star she was a little surprised there were not more people at the meeting to question the Minister about spe- cific policies. But she said Mr. Ward made no new announcements. His speech was partly a pep talk for the local Liberals, she said. Mr. Ward was appointed Edu- cation Minister last September, and was first elected to the Legis- lature in May, 1985 in the riding of Wentworth North. The 38-year father of two is a former mayor of Flamborough, near Hamilton, PORT PERRY PLAZA 985-8054 Bathing Suit Season is on its way! Are you in the shape you want to be? If not, come to ... LIFESTYLE 2000 Kelly, Zuly, Greenway, Bruce BARRISTERS and SOLICITORS Motor Vehicle -- Criminai Personal Injury -- Wills Real Estate -- Family Law Corporate & Commercial EVENINGS & WEEKENDS BY APPOINTMENT 114 King St. E., Oshawa 723-2278 PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, April 19, 1988 -- 7 Sp loa cg - fix egy --ppavirsl cpp TUCK GARBAGE BAGS Carton of 50 RUBBERMAID , REFUSE Ce CONTAINER |', 17 Gallon : - A | a . PICKSEED Sun"n Shade Tuff Turf LAWNSEED Lig bag... Ba? WHEELBARROWS 4 cut, oon... 67.20 5 CuFt. coon... 84.00 5.75 cu.ft... 95.00 (Assembly $15.00 extra) ' WOODEN SAW HORSES 6.95 SOLID BRASS OUTDOOR LAMPS 6" Glob 51.40 39.99 40% OFF JAYBEE (assorted lengths) - DRAWER SLIDES TARKETT LIFETIME VINYL FLOORING Pen. Soaa tan 23 50) GLIDDEN Cedar Oil Stain 4 litres ............ 11 ERY Glidden Reg. 51.49 | DANBEL SOLID BRASS OUTDOOR COACH LIGHTS Reg. 51.99 11 VANEDWARD DR 39.99 PORT PERRY - ONTARIO - PHONE 985-7391 ROOF TRUSS DIVISION - CALL 985-3121 J \\ | - (TMT Hitt 1/7 aN 4 rr (ai / - ~~ ° . 4 (4 . } } IVE - (OSHAWA ROAD) y=