Ministry Overview

Purpose of Ministry

The Ministry provides leadership and funding, develops policy and legislation, oversees system governance, sets results-based standards, develops accountability frameworks, monitors performance and reports results for the K – 12 education system. Government expanded the mandate of the Ministry of Education in 2005 to include literacy, early learning and public libraries. With these additional responsibilities, the Ministry has the scope to deliver a wider range of education services.

Legislation

The roles and responsibilities of the Ministry and its partners are set out under the School Act, the Teaching Profession Act, the Independent School Act, the Library Act and accompanying regulations.

Clients

  • The K – 12 education system serves approximately 560,000 public school students1 approximately 65,0002 independent school students and more than 2,800 home-schooled children3. Of the public school students there are about 61,000 students who are Aboriginal, and about 3,750 students (who have a Charter right to a Francophone education) who are enrolled in Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique.

Partners4

  • The Ministry of Education co-governs K – 12 education with school boards and independent school authorities — education services are delivered locally through school boards, public schools and independent schools.
  • The Public Library Services Branch of the Ministry provides leadership and support to public libraries. Across British Columbia, there are 241 public library branches operating under the governance of 72 library boards, and 3 library federations. Together, these public libraries serve nearly 98 per cent of British Columbians.
  • Literacy services are delivered in partnership with public libraries, communities, school districts and schools.
  • Early learning services are delivered in collaboration with other ministries (including the Ministry of Children and Family Development and the Ministry of Health), agencies and organizations.
1  This figure represents full-time equivalent enrollment for the 2006/07 school year. Full-time equivalent enrollment represents the number of students who attend school full-time (for example, two students who attend half-time equal one full-time student).
2  This figure represents full-time equivalent enrollment for the 2006/07 school year.
3  The number of home-schooled children refers to the combination of public and independent school students who were registered as home-schoolers for the 2006/07 school year.
4  http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/annualreport/2007/educ_part.pdf.

Vision, Mission and Values

Vision

The Ministry's vision is to make B.C. the best-educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent.

Mission

The mission of the Ministry of Education is to set the legal, financial, curricular and accountability frameworks so as to enable all learners to develop their individual potential and to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to contribute to a healthy, democratic and pluralistic society and a prosperous, sustainable economy.

Values

The Government of British Columbia believes that the highest standards of conduct among public service employees are essential to maintain and enhance the public's trust and confidence in the public service. The Ministry is committed to carrying out its mandate in accordance with the key values listed below:

Quality: To support the achievement of all students within a quality education system.

Service: To provide high levels of service for students, the public, education partners, ministry colleagues, and government.

Collaboration: To promote collaborative and respectful approaches to communication and decision-making, both internally and externally.

Integrity: To behave with integrity and fairness, and promote relationships of mutual trust and confidence.

Excellence: To strive for excellence in all aspects of our work, and acknowledge each other's contributions.

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