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John Rustad Unveils “Learning-First Education” Plan to Put BC’s Students Back on Top

“It’s time for a back-to-basics approach that prioritizes learning over ideology. Our students deserve better than the NDP’s race to the bottom. We will restore excellence in education.” — John Rustad, Leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia

October 13th, Vancouver, BC: John Rustad, Leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia, announced today a bold plan to restore excellence in BC’s education system and get back to the fundamentals of learning. Under the NDP, BC students’ performance in math, reading, and science has plummeted, and parents are left in the dark about their children’s progress. The Learning-First Education plan focuses on core skills, transparency, and real support for students, leaving behind the ideological distractions that have led to declining educational standards.

“British Columbia used to lead the country in math scores. Today, we lag behind the national average. The NDP’s elimination of letter grades, exams, and academic expectations has created a system that lowers standards instead of raising students to their full potential,” Rustad said.

 

Excellence in Education: Back to Basics

Rustad criticized the NDP for undermining the accountability in BC’s education system, particularly the decision to eliminate letter grades and standardized provincial exams.

“David Eby’s decision to end letter grades and scrap Grade 10 and 12 standardized exams has left parents in the dark about their kids’ progress,” said Rustad. “A Conservative government will restore letter grades, exams, and clarity for parents, so every child can achieve their full potential.”

The Learning-First Education plan will:

  1. Restore letter grades for students from Grade 4 through 9 to give parents clear insight into their child’s performance.
  2. Reinstate standardized provincial exams for Grade 10 and 12 students, providing consistent measurement of student and school achievement.
  3. Expand programs for academically gifted students to support those who excel and ensure they receive the resources they need to thrive.

 

Investing in All BC Students

Rustad emphasized the Conservative Party’s commitment to ensuring that all BC students have the right to a quality education.

“Parents deserve the right to choose the best educational environment for their children, whether that’s in a government school, independent school, or through homeschooling,” said Rustad. “Our plan will expand educational choices and ensure that all kids, regardless of background, receive the support they need to succeed.”

The Learning-First Education plan will:

  1. Equip all students for success by making sure kids have the tools and support to learn in the way that’s best for them – whether in government, independent, or home schooling.
  2. Listen to parents who choose to homeschool about what can be done to remove barriers to homeschooling and enhance support for home learners.
  3. Reverse NDP cuts to independent distributed learning programs and restore educational innovation.

 

Classrooms for Learning

Rustad criticized the NDP for introducing ideological programs into classrooms that distract from core learning and erode parental trust. He emphasized the need for classrooms to be safe environments focused on learning, not activism.

“Parents send their kids to school to learn, not to be bombarded with activist ideology. We will end SOGI 123 and replace it with a zero-tolerance anti-bullying program that genuinely keeps all students safe,” Rustad said.

Under a Conservative government, classrooms will be free from ideological interference. Rustad’s plan will:

  1. Replace SOGI 123 with zero-tolerance anti-bullying programs that protect all students.
  2. Respect parental rights and protect kids by ensuring that parents are informed of any suicidal ideations expressed by their child.
  3. Uplift all kids by ensuring the ideological neutrality of classroom materials, and that kids are made to feel proud about who they are. Education should be about uplifting students into their full potential.



Building Schools for Growing Communities

Rustad highlighted the urgent need for investment in school infrastructure, particularly in growing regions like Surrey, where over 80% of schools are over capacity.

“Portables are not classrooms, and families should not have to wait for years to get their children into proper schools,” Rustad said. “We will build the schools BC needs and phase out portables with modular classrooms where necessary.”

A Conservative government will:

  1. Open new schools when families move-in to a neigbourhood, not years later, by revamping the Ministry of Education capital budgeting process.
  2. Phase-out portables in favour of modular classrooms where it is not feasible to build a new full school. Modular classrooms can provide a significantly more attractive and practical environment compared to portables. 

 

A Commitment to Diverse Needs and Autism Support

“Every child deserves to succeed,” Rustad said, noting that the NDP has failed to provide adequate support for children with diverse needs, especially those with autism.

A Conservative government will:

  1. Restore funding to autism support providers, which was canceled in 4 communities so Eby could “pilot” a radical plan that parents didn’t ask for. We will never force families into a one-size-fits-all model.
  2. Accelerate the development of inclusive education schools and recruit more support workers to cut down on wait times for assessments.

 

Keeping Schools Safe

Rustad emphasized the importance of ensuring safe learning environments for all children. Under the NDP, safety in schools has worsened, with parents reporting increased cases of serious bullying after the NDP removed School Liaison Officers (SLOs).

“Schools must be safe havens where kids can learn without fear of bullying or violence,” Rustad said. “We will restore discipline, bring back SLOs, and end the NDP’s dangerous ‘safe supply’ policies that are making their way into schools.”

The Learning-First Education plan will:

  1. Restore the School Liaison Officers program to keep kids safe and build positive connections between schools and local law enforcement.
  2. Support teachers and administrators in maintaining a safe and peaceful school environment, free from violence or disruption. 

“The future of British Columbia depends on how we educate our children today. A Conservative government will restore excellence, transparency, and safety in our schools. It’s time to put students first,” Rustad concluded.

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For more information, please contact [email protected]