Retired Teachers' Association

Box 10, Fernie, BC V0B 1M0

More on Bill 12

Hello Members of EVRTA. Happy New Year! This is the latest info re: Teaching certificates I just received from BCRTA President, Doug Edgar.

January 12, 2012

Colleagues,

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I can only hope the news in the next few months will be better than the news we received just after our November board meeting. We had no idea about Bill 12 and how it would change our retired status so drastically. Yes, the BCTF was consulted, but we were not.

Our board has directed the Advocacy Committee to work on our response to Bill 12. We had a committee meeting on December 7 and then we met with the Deputy Minister of Education, James Gorman, on Dec. 22. We raised two issues –

We were told the deadline is a result of the legislation and only the legislature can change it and that there will be only one level of certification, that of practicing teachers. We plan to raise the second issue again with Minister Abbott when we meet with him. We will also seek leniency for those who did not have time to meet the January deadline. We hope to create a ‘transition period’ up to June 30, 2012, to allow for any special accommodations that may be needed.

The most important aspect of dealing with this bill is the great impact that the letters our members have written to the ministry have had. Without these letters we would not have been received so well by Mr. Gorman and his associates.

Retired teachers who wanted to maintain a relationship with the BC College of Teachers via their ‘non-practising’ designation will be disappointed that the college no longer exists. Retired teachers who used option 2 or 3 on the original letter will not have any negative comments beside their names on the ministry’s list of teachers, since their names will not be on that list. Only active teachers will be listed. Retired teachers’ records will be maintained and available should any retired teachers wish to reapply for certification to teach again. Those records will show that the individual’s membership was terminated by the legislation that dissolved the College of Teachers.

We anticipate that the meeting with Mr. Abbott will be fairly soon. Later, we will try to meet with the new Teachers’ Council once it is established and functioning.

Again, I am proud of the support the members have given the board via the actions they have taken in writing to the various government officials. Our working together has been beneficial.

Douglas Edgar President

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REPLY TO EVRTA LETTER RE: BILL 12 TEACHERS ACT

Hello Members,

This is the letter I received from Education Minister, George Abbott regarding changes in regulations for the teacher regulations under the new Teachers Act which comes into effect January 6, 2012.

George Abbott Letter

Lynda M. Bird
President, Elk Valley Teachers' Association

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BCRTA Conference Report

click here: BCRTA Conference Report

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Bill 12 Teachers Act and changes to certification

Presidents,

The change from membership in the BCCT to certification has caused considerable concern for our members and for over 14,000 teachers who had chosen “retired” or “non-practising” membership in the college. The interim registrar has written these members saying that the legislation does not allow for alternate certificate status and this must be corrected by January 6, 2012. This would mean that the 14,000 retired teachers in BC must immediately pay $120, or $60 if they had already paid $60 for the 2011-12 school year. If these teachers do not do so, they will lose their teaching certificate as of January 6, 2012. Any teacher who loses their teaching certificate because they did not pay the practising fee on time would have to reapply for their certificate and meet all the current requirements for certification.

The table officers met with the minister of education last week to express their concerns about this unilateral interpretation of the legislation. George Abbott was clear that there would be only one certificate, practising, and that this needed to happen now. This was followed by a letter outlining the Federation’s specific concerns.

Please communicate this information to your members and retired teachers in your local.
This matter is urgent as these former members will have to make an important decision very quickly.

In addition, please urge teachers to express their concerns to those who have made this decision and those who can help change this policy.

Send your comments to:

Minister of Education
The Hon. George Abbott
P.O. Box 9045, Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9E2
Tel: 250-387-1977
Minister.Educ@gov.bc.ca mailto:Minister.Educ@gove.bc.ca

Assistant Deputy Minister
Governance and Independent Schools Division
Ms. Claire Avison
Ministry of Education
5th Floor - 620 Superior Street
Victoria, BC V8V 1X4
Tel: 250-356-6760
claire.avison@gov.bc.ca

Registrar, BC College of Teachers
Susan Kennedy
BC College of Teachers
400 - 2025 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6J 1Z6
604-731-8170 (Ext 325)
SKennedy@bcct.ca mailto:SKennedy@bcct.ca

Opposition Critic
Robin Austin
104 - 4710 Lazelle Avenue
Terrace, BC
250-638-7906
Robin.Austin.MLA@leg.bc.ca