Education support workers are once again missing from the province’s priorities. The 2026–2027 budget makes no mention of the workers who provide critical daily support to students across Saskatchewan.
“Education support workers are critical to student success,” said Shandel McLeod, vice-chair of the CUPE Saskatchewan Education Workers’ Steering Committee, EWSC. “We support students with diverse needs, keep schools running, and help create safe learning environments – yet we continue to be ignored by the Ministry of Education.”
McLeod noted that the budget includes a 2.6% increase in operating funding for school divisions – an amount insufficient to keep pace with rising costs and does nothing to address chronic understaffing or workload pressures faced by education support workers.
“Students succeed when they are properly supported,” said McLeod. “You strengthen education by investing in the people who support students every single day.”
CUPE is calling for meaningful investment in education support workers, improved staffing levels, and funding that strengthens existing school infrastructure so students can get the support they need to thrive.