Surrey-Cloverdale BC Green candidate Pat McCutcheon pointed to the BC Government boasting that a new addition to École K.B. Woodward would allow some of the school’s portables to be “used by other schools in our district.” He added:

Even the addition to an existing school was inadequate to meet its immediate needs. The province does not mention Surrey having to add even more portables to the almost 350 now in place. Nor do BC NDP officials boast about local schools boards having to pay for portables — unlike permanent school buildings — entirely out of operating budgets. This degrades other educational services offered in Surrey.

This situation is repeated in several other communities where another school year is beginning with overcrowded, understaffed facilities. The NDP has focused more on increasing the province’s fossil fuel production than in delivering critical educational services.

CBC reported on students talking about portables. Three common themes emerged: they’re often small, have ventilation and accessibility issues, and create unequal learning opportunities for children attending the same school.

Reporters Justin McElroy and Bridgette Watson calculated the ratios of portables per thousand students. The worst were:

• Chilliwack — 5.9
• Nanaimo — 5.3
• Central Okanagan — 5.0
• Langley — 4.9

There are 15 school districts with a higher per capita measure, including neighbouring Langley (4.9 portables per thousand students), Central Okanagan (5.0)

When you talk to students in Surrey, B.C., about portables, common themes emerge: they’re often small, have ventilation and accessibility issues, and create unequal learning opportunities for children attending the same school.

As of 2022/2023, Surrey has 4.6 portables for every 1,000 students enrolled in the district.

But there are 15 school districts with a higher per capita measure, including neighbouring Langley (4.9 portables per thousand students), Central Okanagan (5.0), Nanaimo (5.3) and Chilliwack with the most (5.9).

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