Expect your faith in public education to be restored, says B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 new Education Minister Rob Fleming.

Kelowna teachers, said the former-critic turned education minister, have done a good job keeping learning outcomes at a high level in spite of continual conflict with the government. Now that they香蕉视频直播檙e being supported, Fleming believes it will only get better.

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 good will on all sides here,香蕉视频直播� said Fleming. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of fatigue among parents, school administrators, teachers and school staff and it香蕉视频直播檚 time to move beyond an era where government was downgrading public education as any kind of priority.香蕉视频直播�

RELATED: SCHOOLS READY FOR STUDENTS

The government香蕉视频直播檚 first priority is to make sure students of all different learning types have resources and there are smaller class sizes in learning early grades.

To meet those aims, districts are hiring 3,500 new teachers. In the Central Okanagan School District 131 new teaching positions have been created in the last year and 59 new classroom spaces will be open when school bells ring again next week.

香蕉视频直播淭his is the largest single hiring of teachers in B.C. in a single school year,香蕉视频直播� Fleming said. 香蕉视频直播淜elowna and other districts have done a tremendous job recruiting talent to the districts, it香蕉视频直播檚 a tall order to have everything settled for day-one.香蕉视频直播�

Fleming said he believes these changes will restore faith in the public school system that eroded in years past.

香蕉视频直播淚 think in terms of what香蕉视频直播檚 different, it香蕉视频直播檚 that we have a new government that is interested in collaboration and co-operation and working closely with school districts and not in confrontation and disastrous court battles,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e gone from being the second best funded public school system in kindergarten to Grade 12 to the second worst under the Liberals. We have to turn the page.香蕉视频直播�

The Fraser Institute, a right-wing think tank, releases regular enrollment surveys on independent schools, and noted that from 2001 to 2015 there was a 24.4 per cent uptick in enrollment in B.C. Nationally the rise was only 16 per cent.

In a previous interview in the Capital News, a representative for Aberdeen Hall Preparatory School said in the four years leading to 2015 they had seen from a 10 to 20 per cent increase in enrollment each year.

Fleming said that trend is turning around.

香蕉视频直播淚ndependent schools flourished due to the lockouts that were a hallmark for the former government and that created a lot of uncertainty among parents,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淚n 2014 with the longest labour shutdown in B.C history, (independent school enrollment) shot up, but in 2015 it changed a lot,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淣ow we香蕉视频直播檙e starting to see enrollment grow significantly in the public system and in the independent schools we have not see enrollment grow.香蕉视频直播�

In addition to restoring funding to areas stripped in previous contract negotiations, the NDP has said it香蕉视频直播檚 looking into reducing the time it takes a child to get a learning assessment, which will require training for teachers, psychologists, and other specialists.