There is a long history of labour strife between B.C.’s public school teachers and our provincial government.
Over the past 13 years, it would seem more parents have grown tired of the never ending struggle.
One sign? Enrollment in independent schools is up.
At Surrey Christian School there’s no worry about labour disruption.
With over a thousand students from pre-school to Grade 12, the independent school is one of over 300 in the province.
Parents pay 50 per cent of the costs, the rest is covered by taxpayers.
From schools representing the Christian, Sikh, Muslim and Jewish faiths to Montessori to university prep there’s been a tremendous growth in independent schools in B.C.
13 per cent of B.C. students now attend a private or independent school.
This latest dispute between the government and the BCTF is surely to ignite the public versus private school debate.
When work disruptions do occur, independent school usually see a jump in enrollment.
The system that better prepares students for the future remains a constant debate.
A 2012 study found public school students in East Vancouver fared better than private school students in first year physics and math at UBC.
The debate between private and public gets downright vitriolic when the annual Fraser Institute rankings are released, with private and independent schools dominating the top 100 rankings.
— with files from Jas Johal, Global News
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