After announcing the members of a committee examining class size and composition, the government was quickly defending its choices Thursday.
Thomas Sierzycki, the former mayor of La Ronge and a candidate in the 2016 election for the SaskParty is named to the committee.
Sierzycki lost to NDP MLA Doyle Vermette, but now works as a Northern Education Advisor for the Education Ministry.
NDP critic Trent Wotherspoon called that appointment ridiculous.
“To see someone with deep political ties to the SaskParty there while teachers are being shutout, doesn’t speak well to their [government] approach to the education sector,” Wotherspoon said.
Education Minister Gordon Wyant defended the appointment.
“He has a bachelor of education, so he has some background in education. He’s got a master’s degree in northern governance, which is extremely helpful. His expertise on this committee will be very valuable,” explained Wyant.
Sierzycki said it was his employer the Sask. Government which put him on this committee and that he has nothing to say or defend about the decision.
The committee is also being criticized for not having current teachers on it.
Yet the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation was invited to participate on the committee but refused.
The committee is expected to meet next week for the first time. Wyant told reporters he expects recommendations very quickly.