Public Schools: Enrolment Growth

Department Of Education Dept: The Department of Education's enrolment report released this week reports net growth of 1,354 students in public schools -- a growth of 0.8 per cent, after a net gain of 173 students last year ended 16 years of what appeared to be inexorably declining enrolment, according to Winnipeg Free Press. Statistics Canada has warned for years the declining birth rate would lead to annual dwindling numbers of students well into the next decade and a huge immigration wave has brought thousands of new children into Winnipeg schools and produced enrolment growth in the province's public schools for the second straight year. The immigrant-driven growth is predominantly in urban centres, including Brandon, Portage la Prairie and Steinbach, while most rural divisions continue to get smaller. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.