Check this out. Another demographic reality for you to chew on. It is a Statistics Canada study out today on education trends in Canada. Here are a few highlights:
Enrolment in elementary and secondary schools in New Brunswick has dropped by 10% from 1998 to 2004. Only good old Newfoundland has a faster decline in enrolment among the 10 provinces.
The number of graduates is down 10% in New Brunswick. Again second last in Canada. Our neighbour- Nova Scotia, interestingly, has seen an increase in graduates (despite a decrease in enrolments).
There has been a 5% drop in the number of educators – second largest decline in Canada.
The average remuneration per educator, 2003/2004 in New Brunswick was approx. $54,000 per year – second lowest in Canada – but compared to overall wages – consistent with the national average.
For me it’s nice to know that there is one province we can count on to have worse demographic performance than New Brunswick.
Slip sliding away, slip sliding away
You know the nearer your destination,
the more you slip sliding away
– Campaign theme for NB Tories in 2006 election
Just kidding. it’s from a Simon And Garfunkel song.