NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION
NLTA calls for increase in Speech-Language Pathologists allocations in schools

The Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association is calling for a long-overdue increase in the number of Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) allocated to the province's public school system to help address the rising demand for services.

"Speech-Language Pathologists play a vital role in our public education system," said Trent Langdon, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association. "They support students with communication and language needs that are critical to academic success and life-long personal development."

The current SLP allocations have remained unchanged for three decades, while the volume and complexity of student needs have steadily increased. This has led to large caseloads and long wait times, resulting in delays in services. Recent media attention has highlighted concerns in both the education and health systems, but the NLTA stresses that early intervention in schools leads to better long-term outcomes.

"This isn't a new issue for us," said President Langdon. "The NLTA has been consistently advocating for increased SLP allocations through collective bargaining, teacher allocation and K-12 system reviews, and provincial budget submissions. We are actively engaged in discussions with NLSchools and the provincial government and will continue to press for action. When students get early access to SLP services, especially in the primary grades, they're far less likely to require more intensive supports later on, ultimately resulting in overall savings for the province."