A teacher shortage is negatively impacting students across the province and in order to reach a new collective agreement with the government, the president of the B.C. Teachers Federation says it must be addressed.
The two groups are currently at an impasse after trying to negotiate a new agreement for just over a year. The last deal between the BCTF, which represents about 43,000 teachers, and the B.C. Public School Employers' Association expired in June.
BCTF president Teri Mooring said teachers are focused on two priorities, which are salary and equitable student learning conditions across school districts. By equitable learning conditions, Mooring says she means each district having equal access to resources, such as special needs staff for vulnerable children who require extra learning or behavioural support.
"Salary speaks to the teacher shortage we are experiencing," said Mooring Wednesday on The Early Edition. "The face of who is teaching in classrooms because of the shortage has really changed."
Mooring said the shortage has had a significant impact on schools in north central B.C., the Peace Region and the North Coast of the province where special needs teachers are required to take on regular teaching roles because the demand is so high.
CBC News · Posted: Feb 06, 2020 2:30 PM PT | Last Updated: February 6
