Think about education system
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As the school year ends, B.C. teachers urge all parents to start thinking about September and the challenges facing our public education system.
School districts across the province are grappling with unprecedented funding shortfalls that will lead to reduced services, larger class sizes, more school closures, and a lack of support for children with special needs.
Across BC, 34 districts had their budgets frozen in 2009 even though fixed costs like negotiated contracts, transportation, and utilities keep rising. The result will be cuts to classrooms, fewer support staff for children with special needs, and new fees for the basics. The BC Te achers’ Federation, in consultation with our local associations, estimates more than 550 teaching positions will be lost over the summer. Such a significant reduction in teachers will mean larger class sizes and less support for individual students.This summer, please contact your newly elected MLA and the new minister of education, Margaret MacDiarmid, who are all getting ready for a new provincial budget on September 1.
Irene Lanzinger, president BCTF
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