Editor:
Innovative direction of the BC Ministry of Education and Childcare brought British Columbian an inclusive equity-based learning environment to Kindergarten to Grade12 students. While this is a cutting-edge diversity embraced educational setting, we cannot ignore the fact that our school district is short-staffed with educational assistants. This is a concerning fact that we are consciously under-serving our future generation, particularly sparing those who require special needs education and assistance to be proficient.
The Sunshine Coast Labour Council has observed that EA recruitment and retention problem due to:
- Lack of certification program available on the Coast
- Pay rates below the Coast’s living wage level
- Undervaluing of their efforts
- Complex needs
- Demanding workload
According to the 2023 stats, the living wage on the Sunshine Coast is $25.61/hr based on 40 hour workweek.
We live in one of the highest living cost regions in B.C. SCLC would like the ministry to help increase EA certification programs available to residents on the Coast to access the program.
In addition, SCLC would like to recommend the ministry to review and revise the educational assistants’ job evaluation. Today’s EAs no longer perform paraprofessional roles, EAs play pivotal roles in every school district in B.C. Since the creation of the teaching assistant job, EAs’ contribution has changed rapidly as the ministry’s inclusionary concept progressed. EAs provide vital services to special needs students and all students in an inclusive education environment.
Furthermore, SCLC advocates for continuing education for veteran EAs to access higher certification programs on the Coast, such as the Professional Linking Program to become a BC Ministry certified teacher.
We observe that the opportunity to undertake professional career development on the Coast is lacking. This is definitely affecting current and future public service sustainability in small communities like ours.
Miyuki Shinkai, president
Sunshine Coast Labour Council
