Message from the Minister of Education, Rob Fleming

from Ops Talk Magazine Fall 2018

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MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER OF EDucATION

Rob Fleming

As we settle into another school year, it is an exciting time to be part of British Columbia’s education sector. Students and families throughout the province are finally beginning to see the benefits of a properly resourced school system, and we are working to continue our progress until every student is receiving the best educational experience possible. That means learning the new curriculum in safe, healthy, and positive classrooms – and not in portables.

For far too long, there was a lack of investments in schools across B.C. When I started as minister of education just over a year ago, our government laid out an aggressive plan to fix this – and we are delivering on that plan.

Budget 2018 provides $2 billion over three years to build new schools, accelerate our Seismic Mitigation Program, and purchase land for future schools so that students across B.C. will have the best opportunities to thrive in our growing economy. It is the largest capital plan for education in our province’s history, and it puts us on a path to deliver better education to B.C. students.

Clearly, our plan is working. Since September 2017, we have announced more than $823 million in capital investments. That includes more than 5,600 new student spaces in growing communities, and almost 15,000 safer seats thanks to $466 million of seismic upgrades and replacement schools across the province.

Some highlights of these investments include announcing replacement facilities at North Vancouver’s Handsworth Secondary School, Burnaby North Secondary School, New Westminster’s Richard McBride Elementary School, and four replacement schools in Vancouver.

We have also announced new schools and expansions in Surrey, Lake Country, Fort St. John, Chilliwack, and Langford – demonstrating our commitment to reduce the need for portables in fast-growing school districts. To further improve schools for students, we introduced a $5-million annual Playground Equipment Program, and increased the Annual Facility Grant by $5 million – the first increase to the AFG since 2004/05.

For the first time in years, students are looking forward to schools that support modern, 21st century learning that give them the best chance to succeed.

Of course, there is much more to be done, and we are committed to continue working for British Columbians to give students the world-class education they deserve. As always, I invite your feedback. It takes all partners pulling in the right direction to truly make a difference for our students, and I look forward to continuing to build our relationships to deliver a better K-12 education system for everyone. n

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