Strengthening and supporting B.C.'s K-12 workforce

Empowering and supporting educators at every stage of their career by expanding and enhancing learning opportunities for the K-12 workforce including a provincial teacher mentorship program.

Providing targeted supports such as teacher hiring incentives to districts facing the greatest recruitment challenges and practicum placement awards to support more student teachers to complete their practicums in northern rural and remote schools.

Action 4.02 of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan calls on the province to “develop and implement an effective recruitment and retention strategy to increase the number of Indigenous teachers in the K-12 public education system.” The Ministry of Education and Child Care, Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, the First Nations Education Steering Committee, and the Indigenous Adult and Higher Learning Association have established a Working Group to implement a strategy specific to First Nations teachers, consistent with a distinctions-based approach. The Ministry of Education and Child Care is also working with Métis Nation BC on a strategy to support the recruitment and retention of Métis teachers.

Strengthening French minority and second-language education programs by supporting the recruitment, development, and retention of French-speaking educators through initiatives such as recruitment campaigns and expansion of seats in French teacher education programs at B.C. post-secondary institutions.

Building flexible pathways to teacher certification and enhancing access to teacher education by expanding online/hybrid programs to enable students to complete their studies within their own communities and continue working in schools (e.g., as support staff, holders of a Letter of Permission) while studying.

Supporting education professionals in gaining necessary skills and credentials to help students thrive. Streamlining the immigration and certification processes for teachers who have been educated internationally so they can join B.C.’s workforce more promptly. 

Multiple working groups with representation from across the K-12 sector are meeting regularly to enhance cross-sector collaboration and communication while allowing the province to respond to emerging needs and priorities for the K-12 workforce.

• Association of the BC Deans of Education (ABCDE)

• BC Association of School Business Officials (BCASBO)

• BC Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association (BCPVPA)

• BC Public School Employers Association (BCPSEA)

• BC School Superintendents Association (BCSSA)

• BC School Trustees Association (BCSTA)

• BC Teachers’ Council (BCTC)

• BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF)

• First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC)

• Canadian Union of Public Employees BC (CUPE BC)

• Human Service Deans and Directors

• Federation of Independent School Associations of British Columbia (FISA BC)

• Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC)

• Ministry of Education and Child Care (ECC)

• Ministry of Post Secondary Education and Future Skills (PSFS)

• Public Sector Employers’ Council Secretariat (PSEC-S)