Govt issues primer on full teachers’ strike

NEWS/ SCHOOLS — The education ministry today issued an advisory to parents on what to expect if members of the B.C. Teachers Federation begin a full walkout June 16.

The ministry said “every effort” is being made to ensure the strike doesn’t disadvantage students or delay their transition to the next grade or on to post-secondary.

But it said a full-scale strike may impact the last nine days of school before summer break begins June 27.

Here’s what the ministry says about that impact.

What this means for students in Kindergarten through Grade 9:

• Schools will be closed.

• Parents with children who need supervision should make child care arrangements.

• Parents will receive final report cards, but in some cases the reports may be more abbreviated than normal.

What this means for students in Grades 10, 11 and 12:

• There are 15 provincial exam courses scheduled between June 16 to 26, 2014 (see further details below).

• It is expected that secondary schools will only be open for the purpose of administering exams.

• Picket lines may be present; students in rural areas may not have normal school bus service.

• Every effort will be made for provincial exams to be marked and final course marks conveyed to students and parents in a timely way.

• BCPSEA (B.C. Public School Employers Association) has applied to the Labour Relations Board to have all services required for the completion of report cards deemed essential including: preparing, invigilating and marking of school based and provincial exams; and compilation, entry, and submission of final grades.

What this means for graduating students planning to attend post-secondary in September:

• Most students planning to attend post-secondary programs in September are pre-admitted based on their current marks.

• B.C. post-secondary institutions are aware there is a chance that the strike might interfere with the normal flow of final student marks.

Provincial exam courses to be administered June 16 – 26, 2014:

June 16-26*: Apprenticeship and Workplace Mathematics 10 Foundations of Mathematics and Pre-Calculus 10 * Schools may schedule these sessions at any time during the week.

June 18: Science 10 (only for schools that require an early session) Apprenticeship and Workplace Mathematics 10 Foundations of Mathematics and Pre-Calculus 10.

June 19: BC First Nations Studies 12.

June 20: English 12 English 10 First Peoples Communications 12 Français langue première 10.

June 23: Français langue seconde-immersion 12 Français langue première 12 Science 10 Civic Studies 11.

June 24: English 12 First Peoples English 10 Social Studies 11.