The BC Society of Public Education sent a letter to each provincial political party asking for their position on key education issues.
Here are the replies we have received.
BC Conservative Party
Topic III: Education
1.0 ABC Conservative Government will give parents the freedom to choose to send one or more of their children to any public or independent school(s) as described below:
a) Public Schools: Those schools financed through government revenues. This is the largest category of schools in BC.
b) Traditional Schools: Those public schools that emphasize traditional pedagogy.
c) Charter Schools: Those public schools which receive full funding from government revenues but have no school district boundaries in BC.
d) Independent Schools: These are private schools supported in part by student fees. These include schools which have a religious emphasis.
2.0
A BC Conservative Government will introduce: a funding formula which will provide equal “per student” financing for students attending the same grade as in public schools for traditional, charter schools and independent schools from K-12 levels.
The system will operate throughout British Columbia on the basis of choice by parents in each school district. It will provide a specific grant for each student in a school that meets the minimum academic requirement established by the Provincial Ministry of Education.
3.0
A BC Conservative Government will ensure that volunteers and non-licensed paid employees are allowed to perform non-academic services for independent schools. Remuneration for these services will be entirely at the discretion of the governing body of the independent schools.
4.0
A BC Conservative Government will carry out negotiation of salaries and working conditions of public school teachers on a province wide basis.
5.0
A BC Conservative Government will make bursaries and scholarships tax free.
6.0
A BC Conservative Government will eliminate undemocratic agreements such as the “Corren Agreement” from the public school system and ensure that all citizens shall have the opportunity for equal influence over the development of curriculum in the public school system.
The BC Liberals
1. Do you think public education is an important election issue? Why or why not?
Public education is a very important issue for British Columbians includes early learning, K-12 and adult learning. Education is critical to building a strong economy and democratic society. The BC Liberal government has set a goal of being the best educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent and is working with school districts to achieve this goal.
2. What do you see as the government’s primary responsibility with respect to public education?
Government is responsible for articulating a vision for public education and developing public policy that is the best interest of students. The BC Liberal government will continue to strive for excellence in literacy and education and accountability for results. We are committed to public education and will build on our record of making education a priority. The BC Liberal government will continue to work with education partners to improve student achievement through the Learning Roundtable which includes parents, trustees, teachers, and principals.
3. What will your party do to protect and enhance public education and ensure that the needs of all students are being met?
The BC Liberal government is committed to a strong public education system. Under our Platform, annual funding for education at all levels will go up by over $800 million by 2011/12. Education funding for K-12 will increase by 35 per cent by 2011/12 over 2000/01 levels, despite a continued drop in student enrolment. Per pupil funding will rise to historic high levels.
Budget 2009 protected and increased total education funding despite the current global economic circumstances. K-12 education spending is at a record high of nearly $5.8 billion – that is up $1.4 billion since 2000, while enrolment has declined by nearly 53,000 students over the same period. The Ministry of Education itself has a record budget of nearly $5.2 billion this year. Next year, school districts will receive an additional $84 million in operating grants.
Our Platform outlines a commitment to continuing the Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA), which supports student achievement. We will launch a comprehensive curriculum review to identify areas needing more attention, including, a focus on climate change, Aboriginal history, personal health and personal financial planning. We remain committed to establishing voluntary, full day kindergarten for five-year olds and eventually opportunities for four-year-olds.
We will continue to expand the StrongStart BC program – there are currently 190 centres operating across the province and there will be a total of 203 in place by the end of the school year. The Neighbourhoods of Learning program that is combining schools and community services in one hub will be expanded.
The BC Liberal government will continue to work with parent, trustees, teachers and principals to ensure that all students have an opportunity to reach their full potential and develop the skills they need in the future.BC
BC New Democratic Party
Do you think public education is an important election issue? Why or
why not?
Yes, protecting and improving public education is a critical election issue. Carole James and the NDP believe that strong public education is key to building strong communities and securing BC’s future. But for the last 8 years, Gordon Campbell has hurt public education by closing schools, increasing class sizes and cutting supports to students. One hundred and seventy-seven schools have been closed, placing pressures on communities and putting hardship on families. There are over 14,000 classrooms that violate the government’s own class size and composition laws.
The NDP will improve learning conditions in the classroom by adding special
education teachers and teaching assistants and by complying with existing class size and composition legislation. The NDP wants to support local school boards to make good decisions instead of being forced into circumstances where they are making decisions in crisis situations. We will provide multi-year funding to ensure school boards have the stability they need to plan over the long-term.
To address these issues we have made specific funding commitments of an
additional $50 million in 09/10, then $75 million in 10/11 and $100 million in 11/12. We will also increase capital funding by $40 million in both 09/10 and 10/11 to accelerate seismic upgrading of schools.
What do you see as the government’s primary responsibility with
respect to public education?
The NDP believes it is government’s responsibility to ensure that all children
have access to a quality public education so each child can develop their potential and be a success in their own right. The current situation where some children are being left behind as a result of cuts to classroom supports and overcrowding is not fair to our children. An NDP government will put children first by improving learning conditions in the classroom so the extraordinary mix of challenge, need, opportunity and potential that exists in every student is being met. We will do this by adding special education teachers and teaching assistants and by complying with existing requirements for class size and composition.
What will your party do to protect and enhance public education and
ensure that the needs of all students are being met?
British Columbia has developed, over the past number of decades, one of the best education systems in the world, and this is in large part due to the on-going dedication of our teachers, trustees and parents who dedicate themselves in extraordinary ways to helping our children succeed. The public education system has to be nurtured, it has to be properly funded, it has to include parents and people who believe in our children and who believe in public education. Our public education system has worked well for many decades and for that reason we should be proud of it and work hard to protect and improve it.
There is no question that learning conditions for our children have deteriorated under this government. Cuts to classroom resources like special education assistance and their failure in following even their own law on class size and composition jeopardizes the ability of our children to succeed.
The NDP will immediately focus on improving learning conditions in the
classroom by adding special education teachers and teaching assistants and by complying with class size and composition legislation.
[...] Party Positions [...]