Only a handful of parents dream of sending their children to a high-cost, user-pay private school, college or university. Most hope and expect that a high quality, public system of education will be available so that their children can reach their educational potential, whether that be learning a trade, attending a college or working toward a university degree.

But government policies implemented over a decade ago are today threatening the very core of the public education system.

The Privatization “Two-Step”

Step one: create a crisis

When the Conservative government took office in 1995, then Education Minister John Snobelen stated publicly that the first step in bringing about change was to “create a crisis”. The government acted upon this by slashing over $500 million from education.

In the elementary and secondary school system, this cut forced school boards to slash the numbers of staff, teacher-librarians, and guidance counselors. Further programs cuts saw the elimination of shop programs, English as a second language programs, and adult education classes and a plethora of other programs and services.

Many secondary schools began charging user fees for everything from athletics, lab materials and art supplies, to the use of school facilities for community groups.

The quality of public education was thrown into a downward cycle. Communities redoubled their fundraising efforts to fund basic school programs like music and sports. But relying on parents’ private fundraising capacities only exacerbates socio-economic differences between schools. For example, elementary schools in the top 10% most affluent communities raise an average of $32,400 per school. Contrast this with the $1,750 average raised by elementary schools in the bottom 10% least affluent communities.