Employment Equity for Aboriginal Teachers

This paper is a letter of understanding between British Columbia Teachers' Federation (BCTF) and British Columbia Public School Employers' Association (BCPSEA) in response to Employment Equity for Aboriginal Teachers. The parties recognize that Aboriginal teachers are under-represented in the public education system. The parties are committed to redress the under-representation of Aboriginal teachers and therefore further agree that: (1) They will encourage local school boards and teacher unions to make application to the Human Rights Tribunal under section 42 of the "Human Rights Code" to obtain approval for a "special program" that would serve to attract and retain Aboriginal teachers; (2) The parties will assist local school boards and teacher unions as requested in the application for and implementation of a "special program" consistent with this Letter of Commitment. BCTF supports an Aboriginal Employment Equity program. In the "Member's Guide to the BCTF" it states (b) That the BCTF actively support an employment equity program for the public schools with the aim of achieving a teaching force that is reflective of the ethnic diversity of BC public schools.