Province isn’t moving fast enough funding school supplies: BCTF
Posted June 25, 2019 10:29 am.
Last Updated June 25, 2019 10:36 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – If you have school-aged kids, you’ve probably received lists of “required” school supplies you have to buy, like duotangs, Kleenex, and pencils.
The BC Teachers’ Federation is arguing the province isn’t moving fast enough on fulfilling a promise to fund those items. President Glen Hansman says supplies can cost up to a few hundred dollars a year for every family.
“While it’s been great to see lots of announcement around school construction and playgrounds, this is a winner for government,” he says. “If this is a required basic like paper and duotangs and binders, pencils, Kleenex – those things should be available for free for any student that comes through the door.”
The specific promise from 2017 Hansman is pointing to is in a mandate letter sent to the education minister by the premier two years ago saying he expected “substantive progress” on providing “additional annual funding to ensure students have the school supplies they need to succeed.”
NEWS 1130 has reached out to the Ministry of Education for comment.
