Maritime Schools See Disparities in play Equipment as Funding Relies on Parent Fundraising
Schools across Prince edward Island and New Brunswick are facing uneven access to quality play structures, with funding increasingly dependent on the fundraising efforts of parents’ committees. while school officials acknowledge the need for provincial support, the financial burden of purchasing and maintaining play modules often falls directly on families.
The situation highlights a growing disparity in recreational opportunities for students in the Maritime provinces. Brad Samson, manager of the Commission scolaire de langue française de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard (CSLF), stated that while the school board will prepare installation sites, “the obligation falls to the community, therefore to the parents’ committee, to collect funds for the purchase of the equipment.” Samson believes parental involvement allows for play structures tailored to “the particular reality of each community,” but critics point to the inequity created by relying on varying levels of parental financial capacity.
In New Brunswick, the situation is even more dire, with no dedicated government funding available for play module renewal.chantal Varin expressed concern over aging, worn, or damaged play equipment, noting that replacements depend entirely on “the good will and the parents’ wallets.”
Both the Prince Edward Island Parents’ Federation and the New Brunswick Department of Education and Early childhood Advancement were unavailable for comment.
(Information provided by Raphael Caron)
