Education

English Language Learners teacher, Harjit Chauhan (centre) has been actively involved with educating students and the community about cultural celebrations like Diwali and Ramadan. (The News)

B.C. teacher wins national We Love Teachers contest

Harjit Chauhan was one of eight finalists in the inaugural Staples Canada program

English Language Learners teacher, Harjit Chauhan (centre) has been actively involved with educating students and the community about cultural celebrations like Diwali and Ramadan. (The News)
A file photo shows a Toronto community school classroom on Tuesday, September 1, 2020. In B.C., elementary school teacher Austin Uzama was suspended in September 2022 for professional misconduct. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Carlos Osorio

B.C. teacher suspended after showing Halloween prank video with fake decapitations

Austin Uzama showed an age-inappropriate video to Maple Ridge students and lied about credentials

A file photo shows a Toronto community school classroom on Tuesday, September 1, 2020. In B.C., elementary school teacher Austin Uzama was suspended in September 2022 for professional misconduct. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Carlos Osorio
Greater Victoria School District trustees Diane McNally and Rob Paynter were censured by the board and suspended from their duties until October for misconduct relating to bullying and harassment complaints. (Black Press Media file photos)

Judges says B.C. school board lacked authority to suspend trustees

Diane McNally and Rob Paynter have been reinstated after suspension over alleged bullying

Greater Victoria School District trustees Diane McNally and Rob Paynter were censured by the board and suspended from their duties until October for misconduct relating to bullying and harassment complaints. (Black Press Media file photos)
Greater Victoria School District trustees Diane McNally and Rob Paynter were censured by the board and suspended from their duties until October for misconduct relating to bullying and harassment complaints. (Black Press Media file photos)

Judges says Greater Victoria School Board lacked authority to suspend trustees

Diane McNally and Rob Paynter have been reinstated after suspension over alleged bullying

Greater Victoria School District trustees Diane McNally and Rob Paynter were censured by the board and suspended from their duties until October for misconduct relating to bullying and harassment complaints. (Black Press Media file photos)
Queen Elizabeth Secondary school students reported multiple incidents of experiencing racism, sexism and bullying. (Surrey Schools photo)

Racial slurs, sexual harassment, bullying towards BIPOC students was reality at B.C. high school

Report on student and staff experiences captured in November, released to public recently

Queen Elizabeth Secondary school students reported multiple incidents of experiencing racism, sexism and bullying. (Surrey Schools photo)
Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside and partners in provincial K-12 education issued a statement on Sept. 16, 2022 in support of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) policy. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. Education Minister and partners in K-12 education issue statement in support of SOGI

Statement on inclusive policy comes 1 day before election campaign to elect school board trustees

Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside and partners in provincial K-12 education issued a statement on Sept. 16, 2022 in support of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) policy. (Black Press Media file photo)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks during a COVID-19 update at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, March 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Don’t blame schools for high COVID rates among B.C. youth: provincial health officer

Bonnie Henry study’s findings similar to those in other jurisdictions

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks during a COVID-19 update at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, March 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
A national school food program is needed, B.C. advocates are urging. (Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)

Urgent need for a national school food program in classrooms: B.C. group

The Coalition for Healthy School Food wants the federal government to create a national program.

A national school food program is needed, B.C. advocates are urging. (Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)
A child poses for a photo with a Backpack Buddies bag of food. (Submitted by Backpackbuddies.ca)

B.C. food-aid programs seeing spike in hungry students amid high inflation, grocery costs

The school year began on Sept. 6, after a summer of inflation rates reaching as high as 8 per cent .

A child poses for a photo with a Backpack Buddies bag of food. (Submitted by Backpackbuddies.ca)
University student Chloe Goodison, shown in this handout image, founded a group that provides overdose prevention education to high school students in Coquitlam, B.C., but is expanding the program this fall with hopes that the province will make awareness about overdose from illicit street drugs a mandatory part of the curriculum instead of leaving that decision to individual school districts. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

Make overdose education mandatory in B.C. schools amid drug emergency, advocates say

More than 10,000 deaths since B.C. declared toxic drug supply a public health emergency in 2016

University student Chloe Goodison, shown in this handout image, founded a group that provides overdose prevention education to high school students in Coquitlam, B.C., but is expanding the program this fall with hopes that the province will make awareness about overdose from illicit street drugs a mandatory part of the curriculum instead of leaving that decision to individual school districts. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
French immersion students make up roughly 9.7 per cent of the B.C. student body. (Canadian Parents for French BC & YK photo)

B.C. schools coming off a record year for French immersion students

Provincial average in 2021/22 nearly reached 10 per cent of all students in public school

French immersion students make up roughly 9.7 per cent of the B.C. student body. (Canadian Parents for French BC & YK photo)
Sean Fraser speaks at an event in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. The immigration minister says the government is looking at ways to prioritize visa applications for international students set to start school this coming semester as many are left wondering whether they’ll make it to Canada in time for school.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

Visa delays leaving international students in limbo for fall semester

34 per cent of pending applications were taking longer to process than government standards

Sean Fraser speaks at an event in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. The immigration minister says the government is looking at ways to prioritize visa applications for international students set to start school this coming semester as many are left wondering whether they’ll make it to Canada in time for school.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
Avalynn Kwok, 4, walks with her dad, Manny Kwok, outside Lynn Valley Elementary School as her parents drop her off for her first day of kindergarten in North Vancouver on September 9, 2021. For years, Staples Canada has advertised back-to-school supplies to the tune of the “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” with parents eager to see their children return to class after a busy summer. But back-to-school supplies can quickly add up, and parents already feeling the crunch from a rising cost of living may need to strategize how they approach this shopping season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Looking to save some money this back-to-school season? Here are some tips

Parents facing increased costs as they get the kids ready to return to class

Avalynn Kwok, 4, walks with her dad, Manny Kwok, outside Lynn Valley Elementary School as her parents drop her off for her first day of kindergarten in North Vancouver on September 9, 2021. For years, Staples Canada has advertised back-to-school supplies to the tune of the “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” with parents eager to see their children return to class after a busy summer. But back-to-school supplies can quickly add up, and parents already feeling the crunch from a rising cost of living may need to strategize how they approach this shopping season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Classroom chairs. (Photo: Pixabay)

Chilliwack teacher suspended after ‘crossing personal boundaries‘ with students

Sheldon Lyle Nickel admitted to inappropriate conduct, including sending personal text messages

Classroom chairs. (Photo: Pixabay)
A California school district is hoping to attract more teachers by providing them with affordable housing. (Associated Press/screenshot)

VIDEO: California school district builds affordable housing to attract teachers

Rising rent, teacher shortages piquing districts’ interest in workforce housing

A California school district is hoping to attract more teachers by providing them with affordable housing. (Associated Press/screenshot)
Photo of First Nations totem polls in Vancouver B.C. from pixabay.com.

First Nations courses for high school grad credits now available to B.C. students

Students can participate in First Nations courses due to expansion of External Credentials program

Photo of First Nations totem polls in Vancouver B.C. from pixabay.com.
The Sooke School District 62 had to deal with complaints after a teacher read a derogatory word from a book in class. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Who decides? Breaking down what resources a child is exposed to in a B.C. classroom

The province does the curriculum, district develops guidelines, but teachers choose the resources

The Sooke School District 62 had to deal with complaints after a teacher read a derogatory word from a book in class. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
A classroom in Scarborough, Ont., on September 14, 2020. A North Vancouver School District teacher was suspended for five days in May 2022 for taking inappropriate actions against his elementary school students. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

B.C. elementary school teacher suspended for cracking backs, pinching trapeziuses

Students called the one moved the ‘back-breaker,’ and several said it was painful

A classroom in Scarborough, Ont., on September 14, 2020. A North Vancouver School District teacher was suspended for five days in May 2022 for taking inappropriate actions against his elementary school students. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Parents say the province needs to provide better information for students over issues of sexual harassment and violence using tools lke the ERASE website. Screenshot, B.C. government site
Parents say the province needs to provide better information for students over issues of sexual harassment and violence using tools lke the ERASE website. Screenshot, B.C. government site
An architectural rendering of the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology campus and Urban Native Youth Association Centre at Commercial Drive and East Hastings in Vancouver. (Submitted photo)

B.C. funds concept plan of new urban Indigenous education centre

Province will contribute $2.5 million in funding for the business case development of the project

An architectural rendering of the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology campus and Urban Native Youth Association Centre at Commercial Drive and East Hastings in Vancouver. (Submitted photo)