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By Caden Fanshaw

SD 57

Pressure mounts on education system due to teacher illness, staffing shortage

Nov 29, 2022 | 4:43 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – BC’s education system is facing a double whammy this winter. A teacher shortage combined with what appears to be worse than normal communicable diseases has left many districts stretched to the limit.

School District 57 in Prince George is among the many across the province trying to hire as many individuals they can to ensure adults are in front of students.

“It is the flu season and most people are probably noticing what’s happening across the province, we are seeing an increase in absences for both staff and students as illness has moved into the community,” said Cindy Heitman, Superintendent for SD57.

Due to a shortage of certified teachers, uncertified teachers continue to be hired as teachers on call. According to SD57 as of Tuesday, roughly 1000 certified teachers are employed with just over 100 of those uncertified.

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The number of uncertified teachers in front of students is on the rise according to the Prince George District Teachers Association with the situation only worse the further north you look.

Daryl Beauregard, President of the union representing teachers in SD57 is asking for a meeting with BC’s Minister of Education as a result of the situation.

Beauregard said he believes all of the union locals in Northern BC need to come together with the Minister to find a solution that fits each and every district.

In the meantime, students continue to lose hours of learning, in the last six years of this teacher shortage students have lost over 20 thousand hours according to the PGDTA.