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South Okanagan Photos

BC school enrollment continues to decline

Education by the numbers

VICTORIA – The following facts provide a snapshot of British Columbia’s public education system:

Enrolment for the 2012-13 school year

  • 534,691 estimated full-time public school students this September, compared to 540,696 for the September 2011 estimate (6,005 fewer students).
  • Since 2000-01, there has been a decrease of more than 63,000 students.
  • 58,962 estimated English Language Learning (ELL) students – 202 fewer than last year.
  • 54,031 estimated Aboriginal students – 258 fewer than last year.
  • 23,832 estimated full-time students with special needs for 2012-13 – 38 fewer than last year.
  • 6,903 estimated non-graduated adult students – 613 more than last year.

 

Class Size

  • At 16.7, the ratio of students per teacher/administrator has remained relatively stable over the past decade.
  • For the sixth consecutive year, more than 94 per cent of classes in school districts throughout B.C. had 30 or fewer students.
  • In 2011-12, 99 per cent of classes had 32 or fewer students.
  • A total of 4,485 classes had 15 or fewer students in 2011-12.
  • There were 259 more full time equivalent education assistants in 2011-12 compared to the year before, bringing the total to 9,037.

 

Funding

  • Estimated operating funding to school districts is a record $4.725 billion this year – a $4-million increase over 2011-12.
  • Since 2000-01, government has increased funding to B.C. public schools by nearly $1.4 billion: a 26 per cent increase in operating funding ($981 million) and $407 million in one-time grants.
  • The average per-pupil funding for 2012-13 is now an estimated $8,493, up 36 per cent since 2000-01.
  • Total funding for students with special needs is now an estimated $866 million for 2012-13.
  • The new Learning Improvement Fund (LIF) will provide an additional $195 million over three years for school districts to:

 

  • Hire additional teachers and special education assistants.
  • Provide additional teaching time.
  • Support professional development and training to help teachers meet complex needs in their classrooms.
  • To support BC’s Education Plan, $10.7 million is being provided to support early reading in every school district for students in kindergarten to Grade 3.

BC Ministry of Education