When Education Minister Peter Fassbender introduced Bill 11, the Education Statues Amendment Act (2015), on March 26, it showed British Columbians that major changes to the public education system are coming down the pipe.
With one eye on his script, Fassbender’s other eye was looking directly at the public educators, their union, and the elected officials of the school boards around the province.
As he swept through the nuts and bolts of the amendments in Bill 11, it became obvious the B.C. Liberals want to grab absolute control of the reins of public education.
After getting hammered twice over its lack of real bargaining with the B.C. Teachers’ Federation, which represents the province’s public education teachers, the government wants to regulate the educators and school trustees into submission.
Without consulting teachers, Fassbender said the Ministry of Education wants to develop a framework for “continuing professional development for teachers.”
He noted there are no regulations requiring teachers to pursue ongoing training. He hinted teachers may be required to complete new programs – aimed at improving student achievement – in order to keep their teaching certificates.
It has long been a burr in the saddle of provincial governments and many in the general public that there is no system for weeding out ineffective teachers – other than that controlled by the teaching profession itself.
While it was noted there would be consultation with teachers on professional development programs, it was also apparent the education ministry would have control of making sure its desired end result is achieved.
Provincial school boards have been complaining the education ministry has been forcing individual school districts to pick up costs that were taken care of by the province in the past.
Recently, the ministry told trustees to find $29 million in savings by trimming administrative costs.
There has been some balking because school districts have already been trimming this area in order to balance their budgets in the past few years.
The new amendments order trustees to enter into shared service with other boards or public sectors businesses.
The ministry would have the authority to require school boards to participate in specific service delivery programs.
If boards fail to comply, the amendments give the education minister the authority to replace school boards with an appointee.
There are other issues with Bill 11 that will have to be dealt with as the details are rolled out.
However, it’s pretty clear the B.C. Liberal government wants more control of teachers, its union, and the elected representatives on school boards.
