As back-to-school approaches, B.C. teachers’ union urges ministry to fill funding gaps

Back to school is right around the corner but for some families this is a financially challenging time.

Back-to-school is right around the corner. However, for some families the start of the school year can be another financially fraught time.

That’s where organizations like Salvation Army Gateway of Hope in Langley step in to fill the gaps. However, the BC Teachers’ Federation says although this work is important and needed, it’s the provincial government’s role to allocate enough funding.

Dan Donkers, operations manager of Salvation Army Gateway of Hope, told CTV News the majority of the families who benefit from their back-to-school program spend 50 per cent of their monthly wages on rent. He said their role is not only to relieve some financial burden from families, but also to alleviate stress from children.

“They can just focus on school and not worry about it. Will I have a pencil or a book or the necessary things I need today?” said Donkers.

This year they are set to deliver 750 backpacks to students in the Langley School District. Donkers explained this is an uptick since the pandemic, when only 300 to 400 backpacks were prepared.

“It just helps them just have a good head start to the year so that they’re ready to go,” he said.

The need for school supplies spans far beyond the Langley School District. The Surrey School District posted a call to action on their website. In part the statement said, “More than 100 schools have requested a total of 2,225 backpacks filled with new supplies – an increase of 800 from last year.”

The Surrey School District is asking for:

• binders with lined paper
• pencil cases with supplies (pens, pencils, erasers, scissors, highlighters, markers, pencil crayons and glue sticks)
• hygiene items (feminine hygiene items, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner and body wash)

Carole Gordon, president of BCTF, said districts posting a call to action for basics in the classroom is “unprecedented.”

“When we start to see school districts asking for funds and fundraising to do the basics within our system, that’s serious,” said Gordon.

In a statement to CTV News, Education Minister Lisa Beare said, “I know the sector is facing pressure this year. Every level of government, every business, every industry is facing financial pressure and increasing global uncertainty. But, even in the face of significant uncertainty, our government has protected core funding for education and have actually increased it by over $300 million.”

She said the government is providing the Surrey School District $1 billion in operating funding and grants, and vowed to collaborate with the district to “identify and address challenges so that all students can get what they need to succeed and thrive.”

B.C. teachers are scheduled to go back to negotiations in September, after their current agreement expired at the end of June. However, Gordon said funding for students is always top of mind.

“We continue to advocate for better funding for schools, better funding for classrooms so that students have their needs met,” she said.

Backpacks will be delivered by Salvation Army Gateway to Hope on Aug. 28. However, they will continue to accept school supplies throughout the year. For more information on how to donate click here.