B.C.’s public education system is well funded
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Updated: July 10, 2009 3:36 PM
I would like to respond to a letter written by the president of the B.C. Teachers’ Federation in the NewsLeader July 8 regarding education funding in B.C.
Like all sectors in B.C., school districts will have to make tough decisions in order to manage through challenging economic times.
But our government demonstrated its commitment to students by maintaining education funding at its highest level in provincial history—despite declining enrolment and the global economic downturn.
For example, despite a decline in enrolment of more than 260 students since 2000-01, the Burnaby school district has received increased operational funding every year. For 2009-10, School District 41 will receive a boost in operational funding of more than $2 million, for a total of $181.8 million—an increase of nearly $41 million, or 29 per cent over nine years.
The facts speak for themselves—that 99 per cent of our classes have fewer than 32 students, that total funding for students with special needs is higher than ever before, and that we continue to fully fund the negotiated wage settlements that were reached with union members in 2006—which has directly benefited classroom teachers.
Finally, we recognize these are challenging times for every level of government, including school districts. We need to find ways to make the additional dollars we are providing work for students in the classroom.
Margaret MacDiarmid
Minister of Education
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