Private schools are fighting back against public school supporters seeking to convince the provincial government to stop funding private schools.
The B.C. School Trustees' Association passed a resolution to ask the Ministry of Education to redirect money spent on independent schools to the public education system at its annual general meeting April 23 to 25. The subject generated an hour-long debate and the vote was close, but the resolution carried.
Most private schools earn between 35 and 50 per cent of per student funding that public school students get. Tuition on top of that can vary from about $2,000 a year to $23,000.
In late March, the Federation of Independent School Associations sent its members an 11-point defence of funding to private schools, which typically call themselves independent schools. The letter says education offered by the independent sector is education for the public good and that governments providing money to the non-government sector is a common way to provide services for the public good.
"Obviously, over the long run, if we say nothing the pressure from one side will prevail…so yeah, we're pushing back," said Fred Herfst, executive director of the Federation of Independent School Associations Monday.
The Federation represents 285 independent schools in B.C., enrolling 64,000 students-92 per cent
via www2.canada.com