Teachers and students in BC’s public school system can expect expanded financial support for the 2019/2020 school year.
In total, the BC government will invest $6.6 billion into the education system, a 17.1% (over $1 billion) increase from the 2017 school year.
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“This is a great time to be a student in B.C.’s education system,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Education in a statement.
“We are investing more in classrooms than ever before, so all students have the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
According to the ministry, the upcoming school year will mark the first time that all of BC’s 60 school districts receive funding at the same time since 2006.
Portions of the funding will be allocated to specific education areas, like support for students with special needs, targeted funding for indigenious students, increased resources for rural schools, and reserved funding for additional educational assistants.
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With funding for classrooms expanding, the province has also committed to increasing the number of education professionals in the system. BC plans to spend $400 million to hire nearly 4,000 new teachers, including 500 special education teachers and 190 counsellors and teacher psychologists.
To support these new classes, government has invested over $400 million annually for school districts to hire almost 4,000 new teaching positions, including 500 special education teachers and 190 more teacher psychologists and counsellors.
“An investment in education is an investment in our future, and everyone benefits when students have the best possible chance to succeed,” said Fleming.
