If it isn’t broken, why fix it?

“Last week was a wonderful celebration of excellence in B.C.’s education system, and we should all be extremely proud of the work that goes on in our classrooms.
B.C. students are among the best in the world. On a 2003 international test for 15-year-olds, no country performed better than B.C. in math and reading. And only Alberta scored higher than B.C. on the 2004 Student Achievement Indicators Program science tests for 13- and 16-year-old students.”

Education Minister Bond, Education Report, Issue #24,
Week of April 2-6, 2007

Kim Howland, President of the B.C. Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils. “It’s encouraging to see that B.C.’s education system is up there, amongst the best in the world. That means our children are being taught by one of the best public education systems available.”

www.bccanadaplace.gov.bc.ca, B.C. students top of international class
Tuesday, April 10, 2007

“We have one of the best education systems of any jurisdiction in the world. If you look at the international assessments that are done for 15-year-olds in the school system—and there’s a standardized test that’s done in country after country around the world—what that shows is that those 15-year-olds in British Columbia score better than any other jurisdiction in the world in the areas of math and reading skills.”

Colin Hansen, Minister of Economic Development,
Hansard, March 1, 2007

“We already know that B.C. has one of the best education systems in the world, and there is good reason to be proud of that. British Columbia currently has a record school completion rate of 79 per cent, and on the most recent international test of 15-year-olds (Programme for International Student Assessment), no one outperformed B.C. students in math and reading — and only Finland and Japan outperformed B.C. in science. British Columbia students also scored higher in 10 subjects on 2004/05 provincial exams, compared to the previous year.”

Message from the Minister and Accountability Statement, Hon. S. Bond,
June 30, 2006

“Our education system is already one of the best in the world.”

Message from the Minister and Accountability Statement, Hon. S. Bond,
June 30, 2006

“Teachers are, quite rightly, proud and passionate about the tremendous work they do in classrooms across our province,” said Taylor.

Finance Minister Taylor, news release, June 30, 2006

“I have visited schools across this province in neighbourhoods that have many vulnerable children in them. They are spectacular. They are led by educational leaders and teachers who are phenomenal.”

Hon. S. Bond, Hansard, March 29, 2006

“I’ve visited hundreds of classrooms around the province and I am always impressed by the excellent students, teachers and programs,” said Education Minister Shirley Bond.

News release, March 26, Office of Premier, Education Minister

“The amazing thing as I travel from school to school and classroom to classroom…. The work that is done every day in British Columbia classrooms is absolutely phenomenal. We have a teaching staff that is not rivaled anywhere.”

Hon. S. Bond, Education Minister, Hansard,
March 2, 2006

“We already know that B.C. has one of the best education systems in the world, and there is good reason to be proud of that.”

Message from Minister and Accountability Statement, Hon. S. Bond,
February 2006

“Our education system is already one of the best in the world.”

Message from the Minister and Accountability Statement, Hon. S. Bond, Ministry of Education,
August 31, 2005

“School completion rates are at record levels, including the percentage of Aboriginal students completing school last year.”

Message from Minister and Accountability Statement,
Hon. T. Christensen, February 15, 2005

“B.C. is home to the best schools, teachers and students anywhere, and they all contribute to one of the best education systems in the world,” said Campbell.

Premier Campbell, bcliberals.com, 2005

If it isn’t broken, why fix it?