Teachers concerned about lack of resources in Lower Mainland schools: BCTF

As students get back to school on Tuesday, some educators in the Lower Mainland are worried about the lack of resources in the education system.

The President of the BC Teachers’ Federation Clint Johnston says some teachers and concerned because schools are expecting an increase in class sizes, impacting the quality of education individuals will receive.

“We are very concerned about the shortage that continues and for our students who are missing out on services because of that shortage as well,” he said.

Johnston tells CityNews Vancouver that teaching is getting harder and teachers are not compensated in a way where people would want to choose teaching as a career. He says this impacts the quality of teachers school districts are hiring.

“Districts advertising for uncertified teachers before the year starts so that should tell you how deep the impact is of the shortage,” he said.

Along with ongoing shortages, the BCTF says 15 per cent of educators plan to leave the profession within two years and according to an annual survey, teachers have reported heavier workloads compared to the year before, which is compromising the support they can offer to their most vulnerable students.

Johnston says the teacher shortage has been an ongoing challenge for almost a decade with the increasing population and enrolment rate every year.

He says a starting salary for a new teacher sits around 45 thousand a year.

“And when you have considered that you have gone to University for 5 years and have two degrees, that’s not a starting salary that makes people want to go into it,” Johnston said.

With the provincial elections right around the corner, Johnston wants the government to invest more in the public school system as well as open more teacher training facilities around the province especially in rural areas

“What we want to see from this government, any government that takes power, is we want to see a concrete plan and money put into that plan…There needs to be more incentives and contracts negotiated that make the job people can do for 30 years without wearing themselves out.”