New Curriculum To Be Introduced in B.C. Schools

The provincial government has announced a three year transition period to introduce new curriculum in B.C. schools.

The new curriculum will help students learn the basics such as reading, writing, and arithmetic, but in a way that connects them with the skills needed in post-secondary education and the work force. In the first phase of the transition, Kindergarten to Grade 9 teachers will have the chance to use the new curriculum in their classrooms.

The changes will focus on flexible learning and a refined approach to help teachers tap into the passions and interests of students. Students can learn about core subjects while doing projects related to their interests, such as music, hockey, or dinosaurs. There are also more hands-on learning opportunities so students can see how classroom knowledge applies in real life situations.

The province says the curriculum will include a renewed emphasis on environmental sciences, aboriginal perspectives, the history and ongoing legacy of the residential school system, and new content regarding the experiences of East and South Asian immigrants. The plan was developed in collaboration with more than 100 teachers from around the province.

The new curriculum will be introduced this fall with teachers having the option to use it this coming school year. It will be fully implemented in all schools by the fall of 2016. The entire K-12 curriculum will be phased in by the 2017-18 school year and will continue to be presented by subject areas and grade levels, ensuring consistent province-wide learning standards for all B.C. students.

Draft K-9 curriculum was posted online for review in October 2013 and garnered more than eight million views and more than 1,200 pieces of feedback from teachers, experts, parents and the general public.