Teachers wanted: B.C. at ‘crisis’ point in effort to fill jobs, jobs, jobs
VANCOUVER, B.C. — Teachers have their pick of jobs in British Columbia, but the head of their union warns that some students are going without their specially trained educators who are covering substitute positions that districts haven’t been able to fill.
B.C. Teachers Federation president Glen Hansman said students requiring one-on-one attention or support in small groups from special education teachers are shouldering the burden of staffing issues.
“The bulk of the time, it’s the child who’s supposed to be receiving special education services who’s unfairly having their program bumped that day,” Hansman said.
There was already a lack of substitutes before the shortage of teachers became a crisis in the current school year, he said, adding some school districts don’t have enough special education teachers either.