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As part of the government’s Pre-Budget Consultations for Budget 2026, all residents of the province are encouraged to complete an online questionnaire. The questionnaire can be found HERE.
In order to complete the questionnaire, individuals are required to register with Engage NL or log in if previously registered: https://www.engagenl.ca/en/user/register
You can also provide feedback by submitting written comments via email to Budget2026@gov.nl.ca.
Government also plans to hold virtual sessions as part of their pre-budget engagement process. Once those details are made available, the Association will share them with members.
Feedback will be accepted until February 18, 2026.
As citizens of this province, teachers have every right to engage in public policy discussions regarding the provincial budget, including pre-budget consultations. The Association is encouraging all members to take a few minutes to participate in government’s pre-budget engagement process and share your perspective. Government needs to hear directly from educators about what is happening in schools across the province.
While there are no education-specific sections in the online questionnaire, there are a number of places the Association feels members could express an opinion about the current state of the education system in the province and offer commentary on improvements. To help guide members through the questionnaire, below are some specific open-ended questions contained in the questionnaire and suggested messages that could be useful when preparing your responses:
Safer Communities
What do you believe are the underlying causes of safety issues in your community?
Our world has changed, and our communities are changing too and this is being reflected in our schools. A number of factors have led to increased reports of violence and aggression within our classrooms and schools. We need to invest in education. Government must assign teachers and resources to schools based on the actual needs of students. This will have a real impact, not only on our schools and our students, but in our other social services ultimately resulting in safer communities.
Supporting Individuals
What challenges are youth in your region facing?
Students and teachers expect and deserve an adequately resourced public education system. The absence of that means that teaching and learning is suffering. We need appropriate human resources to enable schools to meet student needs if we ever hope to address teacher retention and recruitment challenges. Government must address classroom complexity and size with real, long-term solutions not stopgap measures.
Supporting Jobs and Rural Economies
What is the biggest challenge in your region related to employment?
Government needs to make teaching (as a profession) more attractive to high school students, university students, and to teachers who are considering leaving the profession. That starts with improving working conditions. Class size and complexity, workload, safety, and supports all matter, as do benefits and stability. Newfoundland and Labrador has an opportunity to become a destination of choice for teachers. This is a national and international challenge, but provinces that offer strong working conditions, competitive compensation, meaningful leaves, and incentives for rural and long-term service will be the ones that succeed in attracting and keeping educators.
Spending Smarter
Are there any existing Government programs that are not effective from your perspective?
Teachers are very clear about what is driving people away or making them hesitate to enter the profession. Workload, classroom complexity, violence and safety concerns, lack of supports, and burnout all play a role. Fixing these conditions is essential. A properly funded public education system is vital for the future of this province. Research shows that investing in education improves academic outcomes while also strengthening social, economic, and health outcomes.
Thank you for your attention.
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