Nova Scotia taxpayers will continue to foot the bill for a teacher who is midway through a Reading Recovery training program, even though the literacy program was cancelled because it was deemed too expensive.

The teacher with the Tri-County Regional School Board is enrolled in a one-year leadership program at Ohio State University. She is learning how to train other Reading Recovery teachers.

Education Minister Ramona Jennex said the teacher would finish the program.

"It's between $60,000 and $65,000 for the training, and that includes the living expenses," Jennex said. "The teacher is also paid her salary, so the full cost of training for one year would be $120,000."

That's a fraction of the $7 million the Reading Recovery program costs the province every year. It works out to about $3,000 per student for daily one-on-one sessions.

Education officials say a replacement program will cost only $5 million and help more children. The program for students from Grade Primary to Grade 3 is expected to be ready by September.

Jennex said the new program will mean more group work.

She said the skills and training of the teachers like the one studying in Ohio won't be wasted.

"This person is bilingual and is receiving expert training around French language and French immersion and literacy. So she is going to be a invaluable asset," said Jennex.

Another teacher who trains Reading Recovery specialists took the same course four years ago.