Editor, The Times:
The latest boondoggle from the provincial government is a nearly $100-million student information system called My Education B.C.
While the Ministry of Education is claiming that this system is what is needed in B.C. schools, teachers would suggest otherwise.
Communication with parents on student success is an important aspect of the work teachers do. However, teachers are being told to use the new student information system despite the numerous glitches and faults that have not been resolved to date.
Teachers are being limited in their ability to complete interim or formal reports because other more effective reporting systems are not available to them or they are not being permitted to use them.
Because teachers are spending countless hours and evenings, and weekends struggling with this inadequate reporting system, less time is available to prepare for lessons and to support students in the classroom.
Further the B.C. Liberal government has committed no extra funding to support teachers in using this program and the reporting format elementary teachers are being forced to use creates an unreasonable workload.
Teachers want to be able to report effectively to parents, but are being limited.
They are being forced to use a substandard reporting system.
Until the problems with this new software program are resolved the provincial government and local school district should permit teachers to use the most effective means to communicate and report to parents.
David Komljenovic, president
Kamloops-Thompson Teachers’ Association