MLA Report: The Power of Education

By Carole James

Whether we finished school last century or last year, the end of summer and the coming of September brings back childhood memories. Remember all the excitement at the beginning of a new school year?

They are memories that mean a lot to me and they help reinforce the fact that education is so vitally important. My mum was a teacher, and education has always been close to my heart. When I had kids of my own, I volunteered as president of their school's parent association, and then served eleven years as a school trustee.

I believe strongly in the power of education to create strong, healthy communities and happy and productive citizens. Education is essential if we are to address the inequities in society, and it is one of the keys to building a vigorous, sustainable economy for British Columbia.

To borrow a phrase from report cards that a few of us may have received from time to time, these days there's a lot of room for improvement. The state of education in our province should concern us all. The challenges are many, and students and educators are facing pressures from funding shortfalls and government downloading of costs and responsibilities. It is time to truly put education first, and not simply with words but with actions.

More resources are needed to address the diverse needs of students. We need adequate funding from the provincial government to meet the needs schools are facing. Our boards of education are being expected to do more with less, and they're being hammered with MSP premiums, more expensive hydro, and a dozen other operational price increases.

There's not enough money to fund basics such as teacher librarians and learning assistance teachers. Class sizes are too large. Parents are expected to fund raise to pay the costs of far too many expenses that should be covered by the school system. There are not enough counsellors and educational assistants to support students so that they can achieve greater success.

Constituents tell me about the pressures facing their schools. They're right when they say that parents should be encouraged to be involved, and not seen as just revenue generators for their beleaguered schools.

The province must show leadership to recognize and respect the vital work being done by boards of education, teachers, administrators, support staff, and parents. Government must provide the resources that the system needs from K-to-12.

B.C.'s post-secondary education system is also under stress, and government must do more. Student debt loads are higher than they've ever been, and tuition fees have more than doubled since the B.C. Liberals took office ten years ago.

Student debt levels in B.C. are among the very highest in the country, averaging $27,000 for a four-year program. With 2.5 percent above prime, B.C. students are being forced to pay the highest interest rates in Canada. The province could provide some help by lowering those exorbitant rates for student loans and by bringing back student aid programs that this government cut.

An investment in education is an investment in our future. We all benefit from a strong education system. This September, let's celebrate the work being done every day in our schools, colleges, and universities and commit to making education a priority.