Education Minister Doug Currie looking to streamline system
Currie previously served as education minister under Robert Ghiz from 2010 to 2011
P.E.I.'s new education minister plans on creating a "leaner, more efficient" education system.
Doug Currie was re-appointed to the department of education in last week's provincial cabinet shuffle. He previously served as education minster under Robert Ghiz from 2010 to 2011.
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Currie's return to the portfolio comes two months into a major transformation of education on P.E.I., as the English Language School Board was dissolved and its functions absorbed into the department.
Currie said his plan involves streamlining at the top-end to focus more resources on the classroom.
The minister said it's too early to say what positions, if any, might be eliminated by the change.
"I don't look at it as reductions, I want to look at it as we have two organizations right now, and the priority is to build an organization that is going to be lean, is going to be efficient from an organizational perspective," he said.
"We are looking at opportunities to make sure we are effective and supportive, but at the same time how do we continue to protect those frontline positions?"
Currie also says it's premature to speculate whether there might be a change in the number of teaching positions in the budget government will introduce this spring.
Finance Minister Allen Roach has promised to table a balanced budget,
Currie says there are "fiscal realities" to be addressed by all ministers around the cabinet table.