‘Emergency situation’ awaits in education
Barely a day after he was named education minister, Rob Fleming is already racing against time.
Critics don’t always become ministers of their portfolios, but in Fleming ’s case — he has served as NDP education critic since 2013 — it could be an advantage.
“He’s going to be able to hit the ground running, and that’s what we desperately need as we move towards September,” B.C. Teachers’ Federation president Glen Hansman said.
The most immediate need facing education, advocates said, is more funding.
“We are going to get to work on it right away,” Fleming said in an interview on Tuesday. “I think the main thing is to look at the Supreme Court implementation.
“Some districts are struggling. They haven’t been given much direction by the B.C. Liberals and it may be a case of insufficient resources. There’s a lot of things happening.”
The new minister said he’d already spoken to Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner and would move quickly to start eliminating portables in that district as the NDP had promised in the election.
“I’ll be reaching out to all 60 school district chairs. They have projects in mind … so we want to get a quick start on those things,” he said.
The B.C. Liberals’ promise of a $360-million classroom enhancement fund to hire 2,600 new teachers is inadequate, and school districts that didn’t get the amounts they believe they need were left scrambling, Hansman said.
“It’s a bit of an emergency situation to make sure the proper amount of funding is there for September.”
Equally important is a boost in the overall education budget after what critics call years of chronic underfunding.
Other priorities include seismic upgrades and new school construction.
During the campaign, the NDP pledged to accelerate seismic upgrades for schools. In the overcrowded Surrey school district, the NDP pledged to build new schools and get students out of portables within four years.
Cindy Dalglish of Surrey Students Now welcomed Fleming’s appointment, calling it “well-deserved.”
“This is a huge win for education and for education in Surrey and any district feeling the pinch right now,” she said.