Education
Abbott blames teachers' union, hints at legislation
By February 10, 2012 12:53 pm 7 commentsEducation Minister George Abbott stated the government's case against the teacher's union in an editorial today, pouring scorn on the union for "steadfastly (refusing) to accept British Columbia's economic and financial reality," and hinting at legislation if a fact-finding mission rules bargaining is at an impasse. Read more…
New funding partnership for First Nations schools 'significant': FNESC
By January 27, 2012 01:35 pmA new agreement signed today between B.C. First Nations, and the provincial and federal governments sets the stage for funding parity between public and reserve schools in this province. Read more…
BCTF tables salary demands, drops other proposals
By January 17, 2012 02:16 pm 2 commentsThe BC Teachers' Federation took one step forward, two steps back today when they finally announced their salary demands for contract negotiations, while dropping or reducing other proposals from their bargaining package. Read more…
Filed inUnions, government poised for standoff in B.C.
By January 10, 2012 12:17 pm 6 commentsUnions representing nearly a quarter million public-sector employees in British Columbia are negotiating contracts with the government this year, and a labour expert says there could be chaos on the labour front. Read more…
BC teachers enter fifth month of contract talks with no sign of progress
By January 5, 2012 08:50 am 7 commentsContract negotiations between striking B.C. teachers and their employer have entered a fifth month without any sign of an end to the stalemate. The two sides returned to the bargaining table on Wednesday, although Melanie Joy, chairwoman of the B.C. Public School Employers' Association, said she is not optimistic that much will change following the holiday break. Read more…
CUPE, BCTF, and employer disagree over support worker deal
By December 16, 2011 04:55 pm 3 commentsThe teachers' union says the new deal between support workers and their employer violates the government's net-zero mandate, and removed concessions from the table. But the employers and CUPE, the largest union involved, disagree with the teachers' union--and each other--about what the deal means for the teachers ongoing negotiations. Read more…
Filed inMinistry of Education announces new funding formula
By December 9, 2011 04:28 pm 3 commentsA new funding formula and extra money for Community LINK will support rural, vulnerable, and small school districts, says ministry. Read more…
Filed inTeachers to rally at Clark's Constituency office today
By December 5, 2011 03:14 pm 1 commentsTeachers are rallying in front of Christy Clark's Vancouver constituency office today in hopes of sending an anti-net-zero mandate to Premier Clark and Education Minister George Abbott. Read more…
Filed inIncome gap widening in Canada: OECD
By December 5, 2011 09:00 am 2 commentsIncome gaps in most OECD countries are at their widest in over 30 years, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. And the income gap in Canada has grown sharply since the mid-1990s. Read more…
Government calls off negotiations on Bills 27/28: BCTF
By November 28, 2011 05:13 pm 4 commentsThe BC Teachers' Federation says the B.C. Government has called off negotiations on Bills 27 and 28, opting instead to write new legislation that won't give teachers back the right to bargain class size and composition as part of their collective agreement. Read more…
New school funds good, not enough: McNally
By October 31, 2011 02:54 pm 4 commentsSeven school districts welcomed good news about provincial funding for new capital projects today, easing the pressure on overcrowded schools. But although the news was welcome, it's not enough to put away portable classrooms for good. Read more…
Filed inReactions to Teacher Act mixed
By October 26, 2011 04:51 pm 13 commentsLegislation introduced by the ministry of education isn't the outcome education stakeholders expected from the Avison report, yet it hasn't been universally panned, either. Read more…
Filed inNew council given responsibility for teacher discipline
By October 26, 2011 02:06 pm 2 commentsThe British Columbia government is replacing the B.C. College of Teachers with a new B.C. Teachers' Council that will deal with disciplinary matters in the education system. Read more…
Filed inBC Liberal changes to FOI law leave loophole open
By October 25, 2011 10:20 am 1 commentsThe British Columbia government is amending its freedom of information legislation, but is failing to close a loophole they said five years ago would be fixed. Read more…
Filed inAbbott: 'Transform education in this province'
By October 13, 2011 09:00 pm 20 commentsB.C. Education Minister George Abbott today announced a "plan to move education forward, hand-in-hand with teachers, parents, students, and all those who share an interest in ensuring our province's bright future." Read more…
Filed inCourt refuses to clarify Bills 27 and 28 ruling
By October 12, 2011 04:38 pmThe BC government and the BC Teachers' Federation will be heading back to the Bill27/28 bargaining table as early as next week, thanks to a refusal from the courts to further clarify the April ruling that called the legislation unconstitutional. Read more…
Filed inCreate new body to ensure Canada meets learning goals, report urges
By October 11, 2011 10:39 am 1 commentsCanada has an "enormous vacuum" at the centre of its national education leadership and should fill it with an intergovernmental council, says a prominent educator. Read more…
Filed inTeachers' union doubts government's bargaining abilities
By October 5, 2011 03:32 pm 4 commentsAt a press conference held at the BC Teachers' Federation's Vancouver headquarters this morning, President Susan Lambert accused the government's bargaining arm of offering a "sub-zero mandate" and being incapable of bargaining with the teachers. Read more…
Filed inBCTF rejects government funding offer
By October 4, 2011 04:45 pm 3 commentsThe BC Teacher's Federation says the Education Ministry's latest offer in class size and composition funding is a "pittance" and a "dreadful, dreadful proposition." Read more…
Filed inNo order for districts to cancel early dismissals: BCPSEA
By September 23, 2011 05:00 pmThe B.C. government's bargaining agent says they made no order for districts to cancel early dismissal days. Read more…
Filed in
The next page contains:
Vancouver planning year-round school program
Premier announces boosts to international education, skills training
Teachers and government declare victory over provincial-local split
Muslim Canucks deal with stereotypes 10 years after 9/11
UBC librarian elected new 'global voice' for libraries
Back-to-school lunch book packed with sensible, handy tips from Vancouver moms
UBC rejects million dollar increase in copyright fees
NPA attacks Vancouver School Board hire
Ottawa failing First Nations education: child advocate
Special needs taken care of during job action: BCTF
MOU on Aboriginal youth education in B.C. signed
The Province cartoon compares teachers to Hitler
BC Teachers vote for job action
Government 'picking a fight' with teachers: BCTF
Debt-ridden Langley School Board loses only culinary arts program
Vancouver School Board seeking PR professional
Parents' Voice their displeasure with Burnaby's anti-homophobia policy
$8.1 million for education not new: Bacchus
Education Minister defends insurance premiums decision
Ministry unloads insurance premiums onto school districts
The page after that contains:
Clark says she's listening, but disappoints parents' group organizing debate
Carson likely to elude ethics punishment: Democracy Watch
Langley schools adopt 'varied calendar' to reduce costs
'Mob rule' breaks out on BC campuses
Lambert: Court decision 'restores our faith in democracy'
BC Supreme Court upholds BCTF in major case
Pact saves term for strike-bound Vancouver Island University students
Vancouver School Board lays off communications department, six other employees
Ministry grants encourage rural schools to embrace 21st Century Learning
Public Education Forum to address "crisis" in provincial system
George Abbott addresses BCTF, asks for 'peace'
Teachers' union prepares to fight wage freeze
Yamamoto as advanced ed minister gets praise from faculty
Hundreds of Vancouver teachers receive possible layoff notices today
Surrey rally challenges Christy Clark to build more schools
VIU faculty go on strike; Langara could be next
Gulf Island nature centre for city kids hits fundraising halfway mark
Abbott not sold on Farnworth's education commission
Former BCTF President Jinny Sims seeking federal NDP spot
Kwantlen approves sustainable agriculture degree
Off the Throne
The British Columbia legislature resumes sitting this week, but not before Premier Christy Clark outlined her spring agenda in an appearance on the Vancouver radio station where she used to work in what was pitched as a replacement for the throne speech. That agenda amounted to staying the course: focus on the economy, no money for teachers or anything else, and no higher taxes.
This from a premier who won the leadership of her party on a "change" platform. Perhaps appropriate then that the government didn't bother with a more formal speech from the throne at a time when polls suggest an increasing number of people are wondering if the premier's going to, as they say, piss or get off the pot.
-- Andrew MacLeod
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