Unsafe conditions: Surrey falling behind on inclusive education, advocates warn – BC [Video]

The B.C. government is facing calls to significantly boost funding for inclusive education programs in response to “growing gaps in public education” in Surrey.

That’s according to the Surrey Teachers Association (STA), the union representing support workers and the District Parents Advisory Council (DPAC), who on Monday warned of growing impacts on both students and staff.

They say the district faces a dire need for more support workers for students with disabilities and special needs.

“The lack of funding has created unsafe conditions for working and learning for students and staff,” said STA president Lizanne Foster.

“We are no longer giving students the tools to succeed; we are simply trying to survive the day. This is not what education should look like.”

The group warned overcrowded classrooms and insufficient resources have contributed to unsafe and unproductive learning conditions, including violent behaviour from students with unmet needs. Youth with diverse learning needs are being left out …