Victoria, B.C. – Educators who teach grades 10-12 have been given an extra year to test the new curriculum being implemented in public schools across the province.

B.C. Education Minister Mike Bernier confirmed the news during a news conference in Victoria today.

B.C. Education Minister Mike Bernier

The original plan was to implement the new curriculum starting in the 2017-2018 school year but that will now happen one year later.

“Teachers, principals and trustees asked for more time to work hands-on with the redesigned curriculum – and it’s the right thing to do to make sure that we get it right for our students,” said Bernier.

“Curriculum in the high school years is more complex, is tied in to provincial exams and evaluated strictly. So, it’s critical teachers have enough time to use the draft 10-12 curriculum and help shape it with their feedback.”

He said the BC Teachers Federation were consulted and are “very supportive of the move.”

New curriculum for kindergarten through grade 9 students started this school year and according to Bernier “has been successfully brought to life” adding “The world is changing and our new curriculum is making sure our kids learn the skills they need to succeed in that changing world.”

The minister also announced enhancements to the Foundation Skills Assessments – better known as FSAs – the reading, writing and numeracy tests given to all students in grades 4-7.

Following feedback from teachers and education experts, the FSAs will be written earlier in the school year – in October and November instead of January and February – starting next year.

In addition to that, FSAs will be released in broader school reports that look at a wide range of education outcomes.

“Parents want to know how well their child and how well their child’s school is doing,” said Bernier. “We are going to make sure they get that information in a way that’s useful to them.”