The Garden Valley School Division (GVSD) is pleased the province will continue to support initiatives for literacy and numeracy.

On Tuesday, the Manitoba government announced it was replacing the former 'Smaller Class Size Initiative' with a new 'Early Years Education Initiative.'  The biggest change saw the cap of 20 students in kindergarten to grade 3 classes lifted.

"Reading through their plan, it looks like it will involve assessments along the way," said GVSD Board Chair Laurie Dyck.  "They are of course looking for realistic and measurable targets for increasing student achievement in literacy and numeracy."

Although the cap of 20 students for Kindergarten to grade 3 classes has been lifted, Dyck said the new plan still points out the importance of keeping class sizes down.

"The literacy and numeracy piece is what our strategic plan is all about, so that part is not hard," noted Dyck. "The hard part is trying to minimize class sizes."  As the division's enrollment continues to climb, and with a larger than projected kindergarten enrollment for next school year, Dyck says that will be an on-going thing for them to deal with.

Dyck said the board is pleased the funding through the new 'Early Years Education Initiative' will match the amount given through the former 'Smaller Class Size Initiative,' in the amount of $372,943.

Each division will be able to use the funds how they see fit in order to achieve improved Kindergarten to grade 3 student outcomes.