Tag: Sask

New Sask. Distance Learning Centre still raising questions for some

Shelia Pearson

“We’re really unclear right now what that commitment will add for our staff and what kind of impacts it will have on the quality of instruction.”

Published Oct 10, 2023  •  Last updated Oct 10, 2023  •  4 minute read

Prairie Valley School Division board chair Janet Kotylak stands for a portrait at the the Prairie Valley Education Centre in May. Photo by KAYLE NEIS /Regina Leader-Post

The new Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre (SDLC) is looking at a bright year ahead, although at least one rural school division has some outstanding questions about the long-term future.

The new Crown corporation, added to the Ministry of Education’s portfolio, took over as the provincial facilitator of online courses for Saskatchewan students as of September.

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Distance learning model leads to budget shortfalls in southeast Sask. school division

Shelia Pearson

The province has been touting its distance learning model, but it is costing local school divisions and contributing to budget shortfalls.

The Prairie Valley School Division (PVSD) said that one of the factors contributing to their budget shortfall is approximately $600,000 in unexpected costs related to the newly formed Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre (Sask DLC).

Janet Kotylak, PVSD board chair, said the newly introduced system is causing a significant amount of unexpected fees which is impacting them as they are setting their budget and trying to use resources that are spread too thin.

“We’re using our limited reserves to fund $600,000 for distance learning. We typically only have about 110 courses that our students take through distance learning, but the government has taken $600,000 off the top of our grant to fund over 1,300 courses,” said Kotylak. “So, it’s having a profound impact on our overall budget.”

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When it comes to the Sask DLC, the government is paying roughly $23 million in costs to fund the system, while school divisions pay a per class per student fee of $500 dollars.

She said the government is estimating Prairie Valley students will enroll in 1,315 part time online

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Sask Rivers however ready on a lot more facts on on line discovering variations

Shelia Pearson
The Sask Rivers Schooling Centre/ Day-to-day Herald File Photograph

The provincial governing administration has introduced ideas for a new centralized on-line understanding Crown Corporation, but officials at Saskatchewan Rivers Faculty Division are however waiting for particulars on how it will be applied.

The issue was a subject matter of discussion for the duration of Monday’s Sask. Rivers board assembly. Instruction Director up-to-date the board on what he knows about the on the web learning provincial prepare through his director’s update.

He claimed they understand the difficulties in developing a new Distance Learning Centre (DLC) considering the fact that Sask. Rivers had to build their individual.

“I certainly understand the ministry has obtained a big undertaking forward of them,” Bratvold stated. “It’s impacting us. You know, we’re getting some strategies to make positive that our DLC is a way to assist students in a blended format.

“So (we) locate out what the rules are that the ministry has for college divisions furnishing blended finding out. And then we make certain that our that we can deliver aid to individuals pupils in that,” he included.
The division, like the general public, is knowledgeable that the new DLC will be run as a

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