British Columbia Premier Christy Clark says a "historic" tentative labour agreement reached between the province and teachers will give educators a "fair raise" and improve classroom sizes.

The president of the B.C. Teachers’ Federation, Jim Iker, also said Tuesday that the proposed deal will improve teachers’ salaries, give them extended health and dental benefits and create “several hundred” new teaching positions each year.

The deal also includes a “significant grievance remedy fund,” as well as a mutually agreed-to process to address any future court decision on class size and composition, Iker said.

He is recommending that teachers ratify the deal. At a news conference Tuesday, he thanked union members who “stood strong” for their rights and “a better public education system.”

Clark called the six-year tentative deal "fantastic news," thanking parents and students for their patience throughout the drawn-out teachers' strike.

"This is really a remarkable achievement," she told a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

She said the province has never before had a six-year agreement with teachers.

If the deal is ratified, teachers will get a "fair raise" and classroom composition will be improved without tax increases, Clark said.

The tentative contract was reached after a marathon bargaining session, with help from mediator Vince Ready, who is known for handling difficult labour disputes.

Full details of the agreement have yet to be released. Teachers will vote on the deal on Thursday.

If the contract is ratified, classes could resume early next week.

With files from The Canadian Press