THE Burnaby Teachers’ Association (BTA) on Monday called on the Province to phase out operating grants to private schools.
“Why are we subsidizing exclusivity?” asked BTA President Alex Peters. “There is a growing crisis in British Columbia’s education system, with overcrowded classrooms, rodent-infested schools, and support staff who are stretched thin. And yet the provincial government hands out half a billion dollars to private schools every year.”
Every year, the provincial government hands out $570 million in direct funding to private schools that serve only a fraction of the population. This is a decision made despite the ongoing underfunding of public schools, with buildings crumbling from lack of upkeep and teachers and education assistants burned out from workloads that are too high.
The BTA says this isn’t just unfair. It’s a deliberate political choice that worsens inequality and undermines the very foundation of public education. As private schools continue to thrive with public money, public schools are forced to do more with less—pushing teachers and students to the brink. It’s a cycle that deepens inequality and leaves behind the very communities that public education is meant to uplift.
It notes that private (or “independent”) schools in BC have the right to exist—but not the right to public funding. Many of them charge thousands, or even tens of thousands, of dollars in tuition, effectively excluding all but the wealthiest families. Some selectively admit students based on religion, gender, or academic ability.
It’s time for the BC government to take a stand against inequity. We must wean private institutions off public money and reinvest in the public schools that serve us all, says the BTA.
Burnaby teachers are calling on the provincial government to:
- phase out operating grants to private (independent) schools.
- reinvest that funding directly into public schools.
- ensure all BC students—regardless of income, background, or ability—have access to a high-quality, fully funded public education.
“Let’s choose a future where education lifts everyone,” said Peters. “Public tax dollars belong in public schools.”
