March 19, 2010

EDUCATION THE LATEST VICTIM OF B.C. LIBERAL MISMANAGEMENT

BC OFFICIAL OPPOSITION NEWS RELEASE

March 19, 2010

EDUCATION THE LATEST VICTIM OF B.C. LIBERAL MISMANAGEMENT

VICTORIA— Huge budget shortfalls in Metro Vancouver school districts are evidence that the B.C. Liberal government continues to mismanage the education system, say New Democrats.

“School districts will be forced to cut teachers and supports for vulnerable children because of the B.C. Liberals’ mismanagement of the education system,” said Vancouver-Mount Pleasant MLA Jenny Kwan. “Parents are already worried about their children getting the help they need in overcrowded classrooms, and now schools will be cutting more teachers.”

The Vancouver school district is $18 million short of what it needs to provide basic education to students, while the Surrey district is up to $12 million short, and the Richmond school district may be up to $8 million short. School districts are not allowed to run deficits – so they will have to cut teachers and student services to balance their budgets.

“The B.C. Liberal government deceives parents by saying that education funding is the highest ever – without talking about all the new big bills schools have to pay,” said New Democrat education critic Robin Austin. “If the B.C. Liberals were doing their job schools would not be laying off teachers when we have overcrowded classrooms.”

B.C. Liberal government decisions have led to schools having to pay for carbon offsets, higher hydro bills, higher medical plan bills and higher wages for teachers, yet the B.C. Liberals refuse to pay for all the bills they are sending schools.

“It is time for the B.C. Liberals to stop misleading parents and communities,” said Kwan. “They promised to protect education – not lay off teachers and leave our children in crowded classrooms.”

Carole James and the New Democrats have been holding the B.C. Liberals accountable for breaking their word on the HST, and for backtracking on their election promises to protect health care, education, and other vital services.