We’d like to thank all the candidates who participated for their thoughtful answers.

Take the time to read what they have to say, AND DON’T FORGET TO VOTE!

Trustee candidate survey results:

• Richard Stern
• David Rand
• Diane McNally
• Michael McEvoy
• Edith Loring-Kuhanga
• James Holland
• David Bratzer
• Catherine Alpha
• Deborah Nohr
• Rob Paynter

Victoria – As people around the globe celebrated World Teacher’s Day today, the southern Vancouver Island based coalition United for Public Education (UPE) launched the Fund Education Now campaign.  The goal of the campaign is to get the BC Liberals and the BC NDP to commit to an increase in funding to the public education system.

“From pre-school to Ph.D, students face a system which is so heavily underfunded that it is coming apart at the seams,” said UPE spokesperson Dylan Sherlock.  “BC’s lack of investment in education is making the province less competitive for recent graduates and young families.”

• Childcare is becoming increasingly inaccessible for the average British Columbian family and qualified educators are underpaid and overworked.

• The K-12 system has the largest class sizes in Canada, crumbling infrastructure, lack of resources for students with special needs, and school districts have been forced to sell off public lands to meet squeezed budgets.

• BC is the only province in Canada that doesn’t have a student grants program, has the highest interest rates on student loans, and debt levels average $27,000 upon graduation.

“The people in our coalition – parents, teachers, students, tradespeople, and professionals – are looking to the BC Liberals and the BC NDP to step up and show leadership on the future of education in British Columbia,” said Sherlock.  “Education is the key issue that is going to decide the economic future of BC.”

United for Public Education will be presenting a pre-budget submission to the government’s standing committee on finance at the provincial legislature this Friday at 1:00pm.

United for Public Education (UPE) is a coalition of groups who represent every level of education in BC.  We have come together to raise awareness about and take action against the chronic underfunding of public education in BC.

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Read it here.

Great article on student debt by the Globe’s Gary Mason.

Did you know?

-BC has no provincial grants program for post-secondary students, has the highest interest on student loans in Canada, and students graduate with an average of $27,000 of debt.
-BC has cut over 1,200 learning specialist teachers in the K-12 system since 2001.
-Many early childhood educators are not making a living wage.

GET INVOLVED in the movement to see proper funding restored to public education.

United for Public Education (UPE) wants your input at a forum we are hosting this April.

What:
FUND EDUCATION NOW: A forum on the state of public education in British Columbia

When:
Saturday April 2, 1pm – 4pm

Where:
Michele Pujol Room, Student Union building, University of Victoria

Who:
Speakers on public education, moderated by CFAX’s Adam Stirling

This is your chance to make your voice heard about the kind of public education system that you want to see.

Free childcare and light snacks are available to those who wish to attend.

United for Public Education (UPE) is a non-partisan coalition of student unions, teacher associations and other groups who represent every level of education in BC.  We have come together to raise awareness about and take action against the chronic underfunding of BC’s public education system.

More info:
Web:    http://unitededucation.wordpress.com/
Email: UnitedPublicEd@gmail.com
Phone: (250) 721-8368

On February 26th, British Columbia got a new premier. It is time to bring public awareness to the important issues that all students face in the post-secondary system!

The Simon Fraser Student Society, Camosun Student Society and the University of Victoria Student Society are organizing a united student protest event on the front steps of the Legislative Assembly in Victoria. There will be student society representatives, community members and coalition partners from across the province.
We want you to be there!

Event Details
When: Wednesday March 16th, 11:30am to 3:00pm
Where: Driveway and stairs in front of the BC Legislature in Victoria

There will be speakers, bands, food and opportunities for participating organizations to display information, materials and promote campaigns in support of these issues. Our goal is to help students, members of the Legislative Assembly, and the community become more informed about the cost of post-secondary education in BC.

Proposals for Change
1. Lower the Interest Rates on BC Student Loans
BC charges the highest interest rates on student loans in Canada. Some provinces charge no interest on provincial student loans, while others charge only what the government has paid to secure funds for their student loan systems.

2. Increase Loan Reduction and Create Student Grant Program
The best way to help struggling students is to target assistance to those who need it. The BC Loan Reduction Program provides grants to student-loan recipients, thereby lowering the repayable loan amount and effectively reducing the cost of their post-secondary education. In 2004 the BC grants program was axed, leaving students with even less funding. Having an upfront grants program will make post secondary education more accessible to students today.

3. Increase Public Funding to Post-Secondary Institutions
Student debt is high because the costs of a post-secondary education has increased rapidly in British Columbia in the last decade. This has resulted in BC students having the highest debt in the country with the average borrower graduating with $27,000 of debt!
a. In 2001, at SFU tuition fees were $2310 for 10 courses a year. In 2010, these fees had risen by 119% to $4815. At Camosun the tuition has increased 260%.
b. International undergraduate students now pay over $14,000 per year at SFU for the same course load domestic students take at one-third the cost.

We argue that the best way to provide accessible education is to ensure that the BC government’s FTE grant funding to post-secondary institutions both matches actual enrollments and is increased to reflect the real cost to institutions of providing education in BC.

For more information on how to get involved contact:

Vancouver
Kyle Acierno
Simon Fraser Student Society
(778) 782-6563
ero@sfss.ca

Victoria
Matteus Clement
Camosun College
250.885.5758
external@camosunstudent.org

Victoria
James Coccola
University of Victoria
(250) 721-8370
uvsschr@uvic.ca

For more info check out the Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=183780824991315

Public education is the cornerstone of our society, our economy and our democracy.

Countries that have the strongest universal public education programs always have the strongest and most stable economies and societies – and they always recover more quickly from economic or physical disasters than countries with weak public education or no public education.

Universal public education is the strongest predictor of public health. Not health care. If you want to lower your health costs, invest in early childhood education, the K-12 system, trades training and universities.

Public education saves us a fortune, both economically and emotionally. In June 2008, Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. David Butler-Jones, reported that every dollar invested in early years saves $9 in future spending on health, welfare and justice systems.  That same year, Canada spent $70 billion dealing with crime, $1.8 billion of it on prisons.

A properly funded, quality public education for everyone benefits us all, enabling citizens to live happier, healthier lives and participate fully in our democracy.