A school program centred around getting students to give back locally and globally has fallen victim to declining enrolment.
The Global Education program, run primarily through Clarence Fulton but open to all Vernon School District students, didn’t have enough interest to proceed for the upcoming school year.
“There were not nearly enough students,” said Fulton principal Malcolm Reid, who was forced to cut the Grade 11 program for next year.
Generally, about 20 students are needed to fill the program.
“There were half of what we need,” said Reid. “If there had been 18 we would’ve said, ‘how are we going to make this happen.’”
But with insufficient interest from current Grade 10 students, the program had to be cut in order to ensure the students recieve the programs they want.
“We had to run the courses the kids wanted,” said Reid, as a number of programs are offered to students but interest depicts which will run.
As an example English Literature didn’t have enough students sign up and also had to be cut.
While fewer students may be interested in taking Global Ed, Reid suggests that costs and overall school enrolment may have resulted in the low numbers.
“I think it’s been a victim of less kids. We have less kids in our building than we used to have.”
The program also costs each student approximately $2,500 – which helps cover the cost of the international field study in Nicaragua.
Reid doesn’t deny that Global Ed is a remarkable program, and hopes there may be enough interest to bring it back for the following year.
But former Global Ed student Anita Kajla isn’t taking the news sitting down.
The now 21-year-old is taking her plea to keep the program going to the school board Wednesday, where she will make an in-camera presentation.
“I couldn’t believe what they were taking away from future students and from our community,” said Kajla. “I wouldn’t be who I am today without this program.”
Her own Global Ed experience was invaluable and the passionate Kajla wants to ensure all kids have an opportunity to take part.
“The value of being a student in the global education program is not being passed on to future students.”
Those benefitting from the Global Ed contributions overseas are also disheartened.
“We want to say that we are saddened by the cancellation of the program, but at the same time there is a deep gratitude in our hearts for all the wonderful work you performed in our country,” wrote Felix and Angelica Almendarez in a letter Kajla will be presenting to the school board.
Kajla suggests that the program was not promoted enough across the district or to students at Fulton.
But Reid says that is not the case.
“We dragged our heels six weeks over the deadline (trying to garner student interest).”
Despite talking to the Grade 10 students, there was just not enough interest this year.
“What I would’ve had to do is cut a bunch of programs that the kids said they wanted.”
And compared to the countless other programs, Reid suggests Global Ed is one of the most publicized programs.
“Global Ed is pretty out there in the community,” he said of numerous Morning Star articles over the years and the fact that the program has students out in their community, thinking critically and working for change both locally and globally.
Still, with some of the very passion she gained from her own Global Ed experience, Kajla is fighting for the program.
And she asks any students and parents interested in her campaign to reach her at anitakajla@hotmail.com.
