In the wake of a major national study by the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) on the crisis in schools, BC teachers are urging government to heed the warnings and chart a new course—one that would make British Columbia a public education model for the country.

The new pan-Canadian study surveyed almost 5,000 teachers, principals, education assistants, and support workers. The data paints a vivid picture of poor working and learning conditions in public schools, which are attended by more than 90% of K–12 students in Canada.

“As a progressive government committed to quality public services, the BC NDP really needs to seize this moment and this message,” BCTF President Clint Johnston said. “Let’s make BC the educational beacon for all of Canada. Together, we can do it.”

The CTF study underscores five key issues: untenable working conditions, class size and complexity, rising incidents of violence and aggression, overwork and insufficient preparation time, and lack of ministerial support. The survey also collected over 800 testimonials detailing measures provincial and territorial governments could implement to solve the problems facing our public education systems.

Fully implementing these measures in BC could help address recruitment challenges to meet the severe shortage of teachers and other education workers, Johnston said.

He pointed out that in its election platform, the BC NDP promised two significant changes that would be immensely positive in schools: ensuring there is an educational assistant in every K–3 classroom and a counsellor in every school.

“Fulfilling these two promises would be gamechangers in many classes,” Johnston said. “We’ve already had an initial meeting with the new Minister of Education and Child Care, Lisa Beare, and we look forward to working together to tackle the challenges and bring about the improvements our students and members need.”

CTF President Heidi Yetman said, “Teachers and education workers have provided a clear roadmap for systemic reform. Dedicated student support and classrooms that are safe and manageable should be the norm, not the exception.” 

Johnston concurred, saying: “BC teachers, and indeed teachers across Canada, welcome this comprehensive report and are eager to get to work on its recommendations.”

Johnston has been elected President-Designate of the CTF and will head to Ottawa to take up that role when his term as BCTF President concludes at the end of this school year.