Many students in the Okanagan joined their peers across the province in a walkout Friday afternoon.
The walkout stems from an online campaign generated on Facebook and comes just days before the province’s teachers go on strike. Students walked out of their schools at 2 p.m.
In Kelowna, some students left their classrooms and congregated at the overpass by Parkinson Recreation Centre with picket signs.
According to the Facebook event page for the Kelowna student walkout, the purpose of the rally is “to support the struggle our teachers are having for our education. We, the student, need our voices heard. We need to show the government, that the teachers are supported by the students they teach. Walk out, bring some friends, have some music with you. Show your support.”
The students are calling for smaller class sizes, better classroom equipment and one-on-one time with teachers.
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Here is a YouTube video of the Kelowna student protest:
Similar walkouts have been coordinated in Keremeos, Vernon, Oliver and Salmon Arm. In Salmon Arm, students rallied outside the constituency office of Education Minister George Abbott, who is also the region’s MLA.
On the Facebook page for the Vancouver student rally, more than 18,000 people have said they will be in attendance.
Reaction appears to be mixed over the student walkout.
One Kelowna middle school even issued a release to parents regarding the event. The release contains undertones that the administration is not in favour of the protest. Below is the statement issued to parents verbatim:
The KLO administration is aware of the student walkout planned for 2 pm on Friday. While we are all in favour of students becoming independent and voicing their own opinions, we feel that there are other more appropriate avenues for them to do so. We are concerned with our students leaving our closed campus without permission. For this reason, we have asked our staff on Friday morning to speak to their students and remind them that if they do indeed want to be a supportive voice, they can protest after 3 pm with their parents permission, write letters to the Ministry etc.
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