Education

Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy or decision

1. Request that the Ministry of Education create additional secondary school IRPs with an emphasis on Aboriginal culture across all subject areas. 2. Request for a fully funded implementation of th English First Peoples 10, 11, 12 courses, including funds for curriculum implmentation, regardless of enrolment numbers. 3. Request for the Ministry to establish a technology education provincial program advisory committee to set provincial standards and guidelines regarding facility design and minimum equipment inventory. 4. Request for additional English as a Second Language reception-level support for students who speak English as a second language prior to classroom placement. The removal of the five-year funding cap for service to students who speak English as a second language. 5. Request to establish a refund process of the annual practice fee for maintining a current teaching certificate to those teachers who indicate an intention to relinquish their teaching certificate (due to retirement) by June 30. 6. Request for reconsideration of the Social Studies 11 exam. Specifically the format and the use of multiple forms. 7. Request that the ministry, in light of changes in law and Supreme Court decisions regarding copyright, prepare guidelines for teachers in the use of materials in the classroom. Further that any savings from the Access Copyright costs be distributed to districts to purchase resources for school libraries. 8.Request that the Foundation Skills Assessment testing be discontinued and be replaced with a sample approach to assessment. 9. Request that the Minister and Ministry of Education commit to following the protocol of seeking teacher representation through the BC Teachers' Federation. 10. Urge the government to provide funding for EpiPens (epinephrine) for children of limited income families who may have life-threatening anaphylactic reactions. In the event of a serious allergice reaction, schools would have the medication necessary to save the lives of these children. 11. Request for the ministry to ensure that in-service is available for BC public school teachers to support the implementation of the sexual health-related prescribed learning outcomes in Health and Career Education and Personal Planning Integrated Resource Packages. As teachers are expected to teach curriculum mandated by the Ministry of Education the ministry should ensure teachers are properly trained and have access to in-service training so that their knowledge is up-to-date and accurate. 12. Request to Ministry of Education to reverse the decision to provide independent schools with funding for adult education programs and Distributed Learning. Further that the $2.9 million per year allocated to independent schools to offer adult education programs be redirected to adult education in the public school system which is open to all and offer access to every individual who needs these services. 13. Request to Ministry of Education to develop policy that encourages school boards to promote the establishment and long-term sustainability of school food gardens. This policy to incorporate prescribed learning outcomes related to growing food as well as greening of school grounds with native plants. 14. Request that the Ministry of Education not enter into a contract for a new student information system, currently scheduled for June 2013. Further that this decision be postponed to allow for more consideration of the elements of concern contained in the current Request for Proposals, specifically those elements that create increased corporate interests in the public school system.

Target Contacts

Education

Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy or decision

Request for the government to implement a province-wide lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) anti-bullying policy to strengthen the provincial Erase Bullying program. A specific program to address this particular type of bullying would be a step in ensuring that the youth of BC are protected.

Target Contacts

Justice and Law Enforcement

Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy or decision

The BC Teachers' Federation strongly urges government to reinstate funding to the Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons. In particular reinstating funding to support the Aborigianl program and research analyst that were cut as a result of the funding cuts.

Target Contacts

Labour/Labour Relations

Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy or decision

Request that the servers of liquor in restaurants not be exempt from the current minimum wage legislated for general workers.

Target Contacts