PREMIER David Eby on Monday announced his plan to support kids and families by providing better learning and care in schools. He will deliver a mental health counsellor for every school, an educational assistant in every K-3 classroom, and expand onsite before-and-after school childcare.

“We’ll also build tens of thousands more child care spaces with $500 million in capital over two years,” said Eby.

“Our kids deserve the very best. What we do for children in the early years helps to set them up for a lifetime of success,” he added. “Kids are dealing with challenges we could never have imagined–from being separated from friends during the pandemic to the pressure social media is placing on them. Our plan will help busy parents struggling to find care and teachers who are doing the best they can to get kids the support they need to thrive.”

The NDP said that these new measures build on the action Eby’s team is taking to give B.C. kids the quality education they deserve. They have hired over 5,700 new teachers and achieved the smallest class sizes in a decade, started or completed 125 new school projects, and introduced new restrictions on cellphones in schools, so kids focus on their learning.

“When John Rustad was in government, he closed hundreds of schools, and froze school construction funding while our province grew rapidly,” said Eby. “Now he’s planning to increase class sizes by 20 percent, while cutting taxes for his billionaire and speculator friends. Cramming more students into the classroom would set our kids back. It’s a risk we can’t afford.”

Eby and the BC NDP’s plan to get kids better learning support and care at school includes new actions:

• Deliver affordable before and after-school care for kids up to age 12 in every school district by working with school districts, education assistants, and other trusted staff.

• Staff each classroom with an education assistant from K-3 classes to support complex needs, and to support before- and after-school care programs.

• Provide every public school with a mental health counsellor, so students get the help they need, freeing up principals and teachers to do the work they’re trained for.

• Tens of thousands more child care spaces —an initial $500 million investment to add new desperately needed accessible and affordable child care spaces, initiating a long term capital plan that will be built with input from families, providers, school districts, municipalities, sector experts and more.