Dear Minister Singh, All BC School Districts, BCPSEA and the BC Teachers’ Federation,

We are writing as concerned parents and community members regarding the current shortage of teachers in the Province. It is distressing to witness so many classes at the beginning of the school year without educators with no resolve in sight, and this shortfall is affecting the quality of education for all students.  

The BC School Act mandates that school districts provide students with an educational program, which includes ensuring that qualified teachers are present to deliver instruction. Failing to meet this requirement may be a violation of the law and places our students’ academic success and well-being at serious risk.

The current situation is further compounded by the number of newly built portables—while these are valuable resources, they remain empty without teachers to staff them. This approach puts the cart before the horse, investing in infrastructure without first ensuring that there are enough qualified educators to meet the needs of our students.

Furthermore, this teacher shortage is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the broader challenges our education system is facing. From inadequate support for students with special needs to the disparity in compensation between Teachers Teaching on Call (TTOCs) and full-time educators, the system is struggling to meet the needs of both students and staff. Without the necessary resources and structural reforms, these issues will only continue to worsen, leaving both teachers and students in untenable situations.  

All students are being impacted by the lack of proper support for those with special needs. Teachers are not only tasked with educating the general student population but are also responsible for addressing the diverse learning needs of students with disabilities. However, without adequate resources and specialized support staff, inclusion in the classroom becomes overwhelming for teachers and ineffective for students. As it stands, inclusion without support is abandonment, leaving no one truly benefiting from this approach.

As a result, many parents are losing confidence in the public school system and are choosing to enroll their children in alternative programs or homeschooling, further highlighting the need for immediate action.

It is clear that the education system in British Columbia is facing significant challenges, and we urge you to take swift action to address them. The government, school districts and the BC Teachers’ Federation must work together to ensure that teachers are treated fairly and compensated appropriately for the tremendous responsibility they bear. There must be changes to address the imbalance where TTOCs often receive better compensation without the same level of responsibility, which discourages individuals from pursuing careers as full-time teachers.

We call on you to prioritize these issues and implement measures that will provide teachers with the necessary support, fair compensation, and working conditions they deserve. Our students deserve nothing less than a stable, well-supported learning environment that promotes their academic growth and well-being.

Sincerely,
Concerned BC Parents & Citizens