Message from the minister of education, Rob Fleming

MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION

Rob Fleming

The new school year is an exciting time for everyone in the education sector. It’s a time for a fresh start and a chance to make a good education system a great education system. Less than two months into my first school year as education minister, my goal is still clear: to make K-12 education better for students, parents, and staff in B.C. schools.

Investments in education are a top priority for our government. That commitment is reflected in our recent budget update, which includes a $681-million increase for B.C.’s kindergarten-to-Grade 12 education system over three years, including $521 million to improve classroom supports for children as part of the BCTF agreement, $228 million more for enrolment growth, and $1.7 billion in capital funding over the next three years.

We will also find ways to speed up the pace of investment in capital projects. We want to get from planning to ground-breaking faster. This will take collaboration between our government, school districts, and municipal governments. We all have a role to play in making schools safer for students and ensuring the fastest-growing districts have the classroom space they need. I am looking forward to seeing more projects move forward in B.C.

One focus of back to school this year is to stabilize the system and ensure students are ready to learn, with classrooms to learn in. As a result of the agreement with the BCTF, school districts are creating smaller class sizes and hiring new teachers, and that requires more space. Facility staff in schools throughout the province worked hard this summer to get classrooms ready in time for back to school, and in many districts that meant putting up new modular classrooms and portables. Portables provide a short-term solution and I want to ensure you we are committed to reducing the number of portables being used as classrooms in B.C. as quickly as possible.

Part of our commitment moving forward is to review the education funding formula to ensure schools are getting the reliable, sustainable, and predictable funding they need to provide quality services to British Columbians. Educational facility managers work hard every day to make sure our schools are maintained and operating well, and that job hasn’t been easy. We will make sure districts have access to the funding they need to keep their facilities in top working condition.

I believe in our public education system, and one of our main goals going forward is to build new relationships that are respectful and effective. I look forward to working together with all of you and welcome your feedback. As government invests in public education, we will all see what a sustainable, strong, properly resourced education system can deliver for our students, staff, and teachers. n