September 7, 2004
The BC Liberal government is investing $10 million in new textbooks for B.C. classrooms to ensure students have the tools they need to achieve their best in school.
Education Minister Tom Christensen made the announcement saying,
"British Columbia already has one of the top education systems in the world, and we want to build on that success. Students need to be properly equipped in order to succeed. Based on the cost of a typical Grade 4 math text this additional $10 million means that school districts can buy more than 285,000 new textbooks to help B.C. students achieve even more."
The $10-million investment in textbooks was made possible through prudent fiscal management and lower debt servicing costs within the Ministry of Education. It will be allocated based on student enrolment, and school districts will be required to match the funding. School districts use funds from their annual operating grant to purchase learning resources.
“This funding is over and above this year’s $85-million increase in the operating grant,” Christensen said. “It fulfils Premier Campbell’s commitment in the throne speech to provide students with the learning resources they need to bring out their best. New funding for textbooks is also a key element of government’s strategy to make British Columbia the most literate location in North America by 2010.”
British Columbia has partnered with the Alberta Learning Resources Centre to help school districts get the best prices available on B.C. recommended learning resources. The centre will hold the Province’s contribution in credit accounts that districts can access when they are ready to make a purchase.
“This partnership will help reduce costs,” Christensen said. “It is another demonstration of how we are working to find ways to make government more efficient so that students benefit.”
Did you know? Total education funding will increase by $313 million over the next three years, even though student enrolment continues to decline. School districts forecast there will be about 572,000 full-time equivalent students this September – down from about 580,500 students this year. Enrolment has declined by 26,000 students since 2000/01, while investment has increased. In 2004/05, B.C. will invest a record $6,779 per student – an increase of $563 per student since 2000/01.
