Investing in Our Future
The Manitoba government is investing in our future, and strengthening the province's education system by providing historic funding for kindergarten to Grade 12 schools, undertaking substantial capital projects to improve learning environments, and committing to building 23 new schools by 2027.
23 New Schools
In 2019, the Manitoba government committed to building 20 schools within the next 10 years. Since then, 14 schools have been completed and are operational, currently under construction, or in the design stage and the government is set to exceed its target with a total of 23 schools constructed by 2027.
Nine of these 23 schools will be constructed through a bundled public-private partnership (P3) procurement. The P3 Design-Build-Financing-Maintain (DBFM) model was identified as the best process to deliver this nine school capacity and address enrolment pressures for the benefit of students and families. This model has been identified as the optimal procurement model to:
- Have schools open and ready for students on opening day September 2027
- Mitigate project risk including market, supply chain, schedule and financial risk, and
- Capture cost savings, leverage innovation and integrate optimal lifecycle renewals.
The DBFM model will ensure that public ownership is maintained and operational responsibilities will remain with respective School Divisions.
Investments in Education
Manitoba's education system will receive a historic $100 million operational funding increase for kindergarten to Grade 12 schools for the 2023-24 school year. An additional $106 million is being invested to make one-time funding to school divisions last year permanent.
Budget 2023 also provided an additional $260 million for capital projects to improve learning environments for students in the 2023-24 school year. These investments include more than $90 million for renovations and additions, $104 million for new schools and $66 million for existing infrastructure renewal.
Capital projects expected to be finished in 2023-24 will create 375 new classrooms and add over one million square feet of school space for students. These capital projects will also increase specialized and multi-purpose learning spaces, such as gymnasiums, libraries and spaces for vocational learning.
