In my last article I wrote about how Essex MPP Taras Natyshak supports striking teachers who are disastified with $95,891 per year in salary. This article will examine Ontario's expensive education system.
Below is a pie chart of the Ontario budget. As you can see, spending on elementary and secondary education (the "Education Sector") eats up 18.3% of the Ontario budget, or $29.1 billion. That does not include post-secondary schools like colleges and universties. The Education Sector is the second largest expense in the budget, second only to health care.
Below is a pie chart of the Ontario budget. As you can see, spending on elementary and secondary education (the "Education Sector") eats up 18.3% of the Ontario budget, or $29.1 billion. That does not include post-secondary schools like colleges and universties. The Education Sector is the second largest expense in the budget, second only to health care.
In the 2002-2003 school year, Ontario had 2,164,940 students in elementary schools and high schools. By the 2017-2018 school year, the number of students decreased considerably. By 2017-2018, the numbers had fallen to 2,020,301 students in elementary schools and high schools. That's a decrease of 144,639 students or 6.6%.
Since the number of students decreased 6.6%, naturally, you would think the number of education employees also decreased. However, the opposite happened. In the 2002-2003 school year, Ontario had 120,402 teachers and administrators. By 2017-2018, the number of education employees actually increased to 125,979 teachers, administrators, and early childhood educators. That's an increase of 5,577 employees or 4.6%.
So while the number of students was going down, the number of education employees was going up. That means from 2003 to 2018, Ontario built a system that actually served fewer students.
In 2003 Ontario taxpayers were spending $4,295 per student ($9.3 billion divided by 2,164,940 students = $4,295). By 2018, Ontario taxpayers were spending more than triple that amount. By 2018, Ontario taxpayers were spending $14,403 per student ($29.1 Billion divided by 2,202,301 students = $14,403). Per student spending in Ontario more than tripled from 2003 to 2018. That means from 2003 to 2018, Ontario built a more expensive system that served fewer students.
The tripling of education costs cannot be attributed to inflation and, as you can see from the statistics above, enrollment numbers had nothing to do with it, either. Here is one final fact you need to know. Approximately 80% of the Education Sector budget goes to salary, wages, and benefits.
The conclusion is obvious. Ontario's expensive education system has everything to do with the disproportionate increase in the numbers of teachers, administrators, and early childhood educators, and the compensation packages paid to them.
Since the number of students decreased 6.6%, naturally, you would think the number of education employees also decreased. However, the opposite happened. In the 2002-2003 school year, Ontario had 120,402 teachers and administrators. By 2017-2018, the number of education employees actually increased to 125,979 teachers, administrators, and early childhood educators. That's an increase of 5,577 employees or 4.6%.
So while the number of students was going down, the number of education employees was going up. That means from 2003 to 2018, Ontario built a system that actually served fewer students.
In 2003 Ontario taxpayers were spending $4,295 per student ($9.3 billion divided by 2,164,940 students = $4,295). By 2018, Ontario taxpayers were spending more than triple that amount. By 2018, Ontario taxpayers were spending $14,403 per student ($29.1 Billion divided by 2,202,301 students = $14,403). Per student spending in Ontario more than tripled from 2003 to 2018. That means from 2003 to 2018, Ontario built a more expensive system that served fewer students.
The tripling of education costs cannot be attributed to inflation and, as you can see from the statistics above, enrollment numbers had nothing to do with it, either. Here is one final fact you need to know. Approximately 80% of the Education Sector budget goes to salary, wages, and benefits.
The conclusion is obvious. Ontario's expensive education system has everything to do with the disproportionate increase in the numbers of teachers, administrators, and early childhood educators, and the compensation packages paid to them.