Enrolment Trends in Nova Scotia Schools: Halifax and CSAP Surge

Student enrolment in Nova Scotia’s public schools has largely stabilised, with some areas experiencing a decline. However, the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) and the province’s French-language school board, the Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial (CSAP), continue to see robust growth, raising concerns about classroom capacity.

Since 2017, HRCE has welcomed approximately 11,000 new students, pushing total enrolment past 60,000. To accommodate this influx, HRCE has employed temporary measures, including the installation of 157 modular classrooms and 53 portable classrooms. “Since 2017, HRCE has received eight new schools across the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), with plans to build 11 more in the coming years,” stated Steven Gallagher, executive director of HRCE.

Gallagher noted that there is no evidence to suggest that modular classrooms have adversely affected student learning. The province views these modular units as a temporary solution while it plans to expand and construct new educational facilities. “The use of modulars has been intended to augment the square footage that we have, and to solve our immediate capacity problem,” explained Tracey Barbrick, deputy minister for the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and Advanced Education.

In response to increasing demands, Nova Scotia has significantly raised its school construction and maintenance budget to $30 million annually. This marks a substantial increase from the $6 million allocated under the previous Liberal government. Barbrick clarified that this budget does not cover new school builds, as the province is reviewing plans to construct 19 new or replacement schools, with 13 planned specifically for the Halifax area.

Barbrick expressed optimism about the slower growth in enrolment this year, stating it provides an opportunity to catch up on construction without altering the long-term plans. “That gives us a little bit of a breather to catch up,” she said.

The CSAP, which caters to French-speaking students, recorded the province’s fastest enrolment growth this year, with a 3.2 percent increase. Michel Collette, executive director of CSAP, indicated that the ongoing recruitment of professionals such as doctors, nurses, and teachers from around the world is likely to further boost these numbers. Collette also emphasised that additional Francophone schools would enhance their ability to attract and retain students.

Looking ahead, projections suggest a moderation in enrolment growth across all regions. The HRCE experienced an increase of 500 new students this year, significantly lower than the 1,600 initially anticipated. Gallagher pointed out that new federal immigration caps are contributing to slower population growth, compelling the school system to revise its long-term enrolment projections.

For more information and updates on Nova Scotia’s education landscape, visit the dedicated provincial news pages.