REPORT CARD ON BRITISH COLUMBIA'S PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSYEM
MAJORITY (61%) OF BRITISH COLUMBIANS SATISFIED WITH STATE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM
MOST (60%) THINK THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD IS DOING A GOOD JOB AT MEETING THEIR COMMUNITY'S UNIQUE NEEDS
BUT, HALF (48%) OF BC PUBLIC DISAGREES PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IS DOING A GOOD JOB OF PREPARING STUDENTS FOR TODAY'S WORKFORCE
AND, TWO-THIRD'S (65%) BELIEVES PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE RECEIVING A MUCH BETTER EDUCATION THAN PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS
(Vancouver, BC) A new BC Reid Express Survey on the state of British Columbia's public education system reveals BC residents (61%) are generally satisfied with the current system and think (60%) that local school boards are doing a good job at responding to unique community needs. Nonetheless, a majority of British Columbians (65%) thinks private school students get a much better education than public school students, and only half (49%) think the system is doing a good job at preparing students for today's workforce.
MAJORITY (61%) OF BRITISH COLUMBIANS SATISFIED WITH STATE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM
Six-in-ten (61%) British Columbians are satisfied with the overall state of BC's public education system today. Despite this seemingly positive result, the new BC Liberal government would be wise to pay a great deal of attention to education in the future. Only 10% of the BC public say they are "very satisfied" with the public education system, while an additional 51% are "somewhat satisfied." One-in-three (34%) British Columbians are dissatisfied with the current state of BC's public education system. As with those who are satisfied with the public education system, the intensity of opinion is mostly temperate. Only 9% are "very dissatisfied" with the public education system, compared with 25% who are "somewhat dissatisfied."
MOST (60%) THINK THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD IS DOING A GOOD JOB AT MEETING THEIR COMMUNITY'S UNIQUE NEEDS
British Columbians generally agree that local school boards are doing a good job of meeting the unique needs of individual communities. Sixty percent agree with the statement that "My local school board is doing a good job of ensuring that schools meet my community's unique needs." Overall, 12% of BC residents "agree strongly" with this statement and 48% "agree somewhat" with this statement. Three-in-ten (30%) BC residents disagree that their local school board is doing a good job of meeting the unique needs of their community. This includes 11% who "disagree strongly" and 19% who "disagree somewhat" that their local school board is doing a good job of addressing the distinct needs of their community.
HALF (48%) OF BC PUBLIC DISAGREES PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IS DOING A GOOD JOB OF PREPARING STUDENTS FOR TODAY'S WORKFORCE
The BC public is split down the middle in its assessment of how well the public education system is performing at preparing students for today's workforce. Forty-nine percent of BC residents agree with the statement that "BC's public education system is doing a good job of preparing students for today's workforce." A similar percentage (48%) of British Columbians disagree with this assertion. The negative viewpoint has the more deeply held convictions on this issue. Twenty percent of BC residents "disagree strongly" that public education is doing a good job preparing students for today's workforce. Only about half (11%) as many residents "agree strongly" that the public education system is doing a good job.
TWO-THIRD'S (65%) BELIEVES PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE RECEIVING A MUCH BETTER EDUCATION THAN PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS
Although the majority of British Columbians are satisfied with the public education system, most believe that private school students are receiving a much better education than their public school counterparts. Two-thirds (65%) of British Columbians agree with the statement that "Students in private schools receive a much better education than students in public schools." Overall, 36 percent of BC residents "agree strongly" that private schools are much better and 29% "agree somewhat" with this statement. One-in-four (24%) BC residents disagrees that private school students receive a much better education, including 9% who "disagree strongly."
MAJORITY (61%) OF BRITISH COLUMBIANS SATISFIED WITH STATE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM
Six-in-ten (61%) British Columbians are satisfied with the overall state of BC's public education system today. Despite this seemingly positive result, the new BC Liberal government would be wise to pay a great deal of attention to education in the future. Only 10% of the BC public say they are "very satisfied" with the public education system, while an additional 51% are "somewhat satisfied." One-in-three (34%) British Columbians are dissatisfied with the current state of BC's public education system. As with those who are satisfied with the public education system, the intensity of opinion is mostly temperate. Only 9% are "very dissatisfied" with the public education system, compared with 25% who are "somewhat dissatisfied."
- Vancouver Island residents are the least satisfied with BC's public education system. One-in-two (50%) Vancouver Island residents says they are satisfied with the system, compared to 64% of Lower Mainland residents and 63% of Interior residents.
- Those with more recent personal experiences with the public education system are most likely to be satisfied. Seventy percent of younger residents (18 to 34 years) express satisfaction with the system, compared to 57% of those aged 35 years or older.
- And, parents with children currently enrolled in the K-12 public education system are no more or less satisfied than other BC residents (61% among parents, 61% among non-parents).
MOST (60%) THINK THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD IS DOING A GOOD JOB AT MEETING THEIR COMMUNITY'S UNIQUE NEEDS
British Columbians generally agree that local school boards are doing a good job of meeting the unique needs of individual communities. Sixty percent agree with the statement that "My local school board is doing a good job of ensuring that schools meet my community's unique needs." Overall, 12% of BC residents "agree strongly" with this statement and 48% "agree somewhat" with this statement. Three-in-ten (30%) BC residents disagree that their local school board is doing a good job of meeting the unique needs of their community. This includes 11% who "disagree strongly" and 19% who "disagree somewhat" that their local school board is doing a good job of addressing the distinct needs of their community.
- Vancouver Island residents and Interior residents are more likely than Lower Mainland residents to be unhappy with the performance of their local school board at meeting unique community needs. Thirty-seven percent of Vancouver Island residents and 35% of Interior residents disagree that their school board is doing a good job of ensuring that schools meet unique community needs. Twenty-five percent of Lower Mainland residents disagree that their local school board is doing a good job in this area.
HALF (48%) OF BC PUBLIC DISAGREES PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IS DOING A GOOD JOB OF PREPARING STUDENTS FOR TODAY'S WORKFORCE
The BC public is split down the middle in its assessment of how well the public education system is performing at preparing students for today's workforce. Forty-nine percent of BC residents agree with the statement that "BC's public education system is doing a good job of preparing students for today's workforce." A similar percentage (48%) of British Columbians disagree with this assertion. The negative viewpoint has the more deeply held convictions on this issue. Twenty percent of BC residents "disagree strongly" that public education is doing a good job preparing students for today's workforce. Only about half (11%) as many residents "agree strongly" that the public education system is doing a good job.
- Younger residents are more likely to agree the system is doing a good job of preparing students for today's workforce (55% among 18-34 years vs. 45% among 35+ years).
TWO-THIRD'S (65%) BELIEVES PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE RECEIVING A MUCH BETTER EDUCATION THAN PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS
Although the majority of British Columbians are satisfied with the public education system, most believe that private school students are receiving a much better education than their public school counterparts. Two-thirds (65%) of British Columbians agree with the statement that "Students in private schools receive a much better education than students in public schools." Overall, 36 percent of BC residents "agree strongly" that private schools are much better and 29% "agree somewhat" with this statement. One-in-four (24%) BC residents disagrees that private school students receive a much better education, including 9% who "disagree strongly."
- Younger residents are somewhat less likely to believe private school students receive a much better education (59% among 18 to 34 years vs. 68% among 35+ years).
- And, a majority (60%) of parents with children currently enrolled in the K-12 public education system also believes that private school students receive a much better education. This is not statistically different from residents without children in the public education system.
-
- 30 -
For more information on this news release,
please contact:
Daniel Savas
Senior Vice-President
Ipsos-Reid
(604) 893-1610 (office)
