Teachers gather in Vancouver for BC Teacher’s Federation AGM

Nearly 700 teachers from across British Columbia are gathering in Vancouver for the 109th BC Teachers’ Federation annual general meeting.

“I think it says alot about teachers, that they’re willing on their spring break to come down and spend four days in a windowless room discussing and debating how to improve education,” BCTF president Clint Johnston told CityNews.

It comes at a time when issues for B.C.’s educational system are in the spotlight, with school districts across the Lower Mainland sounding the alarm on rampant overcrowding and underfunding.

The AGM makes decisions and guides the union’s direction on behalf of B.C.’s 51,00 public school teachers. It’s taking place as the federation prepares for collective bargaining amidst a severe teacher shortage and economic uncertainties flowing from south of the border

“What it really comes down to is money. It needs to be funded and there needs to be more funding in education, because if you ask me, that’s the second biggest problem right now and it’s directly linked to the teacher shortage,” Johnston said.

The BCTF president emphasized the impact on students during these difficult times

“You see students in schools who are having a rotation of teachers because they can’t get a certified teacher to fill [the vacancy],” Johnston explained.

“We have a disappointingly high number of students being taught by uncertified teachers, people are doing their best but don’t have the training to get kids where they need to be.”

An example of this is in the Surrey School District, where trustees say the lack of funding is forcing them to move even more high schools to extended days as a result of overcrowding

Delegates heard from guest speaker Niigaan Sinclair, son of the late Murray Sinclair, on Sunday.

The AGM runs through Tuesday, when representatives will vote on issues ranging from education policy and finance to health, welfare, and safety for teachers.