Enrollment still strong for education programs in province

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Mediator Vince Ready will once again be talking with both the BC teachers’ union and the school employers association Saturday afternoon.

Discussions were held from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday.

Ready says he’s still looking for a useful framework to get the dispute resolved.

“The parties are still a long ways apart. I will meet with the union at 1 p.m. to discuss their package with them.”

Despite the high anxiety created by the labour dispute, people wanting to get into the teaching profession don’t appear to be changing their minds.

Nine post-secondary schools provide teaching degree programs in BC, and Sandra Bruneau with the Association of BC Deans of Education says interest in the programs is as strong as ever.

“Enrollment is holding steady and indeed it has gone up a bit at UBC, our largest program,” she points out.

“Most people go into teaching full of enthusiasm, hoping that the labour situation will sort itself out by the time they graduate. For many, it’s their calling.”

Roughly 2,000 people graduate with teaching certificates every year in BC, but Bruneau doesn’t believe there is a glut of teachers.

She says many go overseas, while others do find local work eventually in a profession that has been known to have a high turnover.

Bruneau doesn’t have recent numbers, but about a decade ago, studies showed only half of teachers stayed with the profession longer than five years.

Grade 12 student shares her anxieties

Queena Zeng sits on student council, is on several school sports teams and hopes to go to university next year.

The Steveston-London student is behind a petition calling on the sides to get a deal done before this Tuesday.

“I’m really concerned because I do want school to start. It’s making me feel insecure about my future,” she says.

She says any delay in the start of the school year will jeopardize the completion of key subjects.

“I want to be able to go to post-secondary. I feel that if the strike continues it will definitely harm my chances to get in. I’m not sure I will be able to finish my requirements.”

Zeng points out that not only her academic life would be put on hold, but she’d also be without extracurricular activities.

She says if classes are indeed out next week, she’ll personally take her petition to local community centres and libraries to make sure people know what’s going on.