BACK TO SCHOOL: Education by the numbers as class begins
As the 2012-2013 school year begins on Tuesday, Sept. 4, here is a snapshot of data from the Ministry of Education:
Enrolment for the 2012-2013 school year:
• There are an estimated 534,691 full-time public school students this September, compared to the 540,696 estimate in September 2011, a decrease of 6,005 students.
• Since 2000-20001, there has been a decrease of more than 63,000 students.
• There are an estimated 58,962 students whose mother tongue at home is not English and who are learning the English language, 202 fewer than last year.
• There are an estimated 54,031 aboriginal students, 258 fewer than last year.
• There are an estimated 23,832 full-time students with special needs for 2012-2013, 38 fewer than last year.
• There are an estimated 6,903 non-graduated adult students, 613 more than last year.
In the classroom:
• The provincial six-year completion rate was 81 per cent in 2010-2011.
• The average pass rate for courses with required provincial exams was 96 per cent.
• 990 students received a B.C. school completion certificate in 2010-2011. These certificates recognize the accomplishments of students, including students with special needs, who succeed in meeting the goals of their educational program other than graduation.
• 78,650 students took at least one online (distributed learning) course in 2011-2012. That compares to just 33,022 students four years ago.
Getting healthy:
• In April 2012, the provincial government announced a $1-million expansion for the B.C. School Fruit and Vegetable Nutritional Program. It is expected an additional 75 schools will join the program this month, with another 75 schools set to join in January 2013, bringing to 1,484 the number of schools participating.
• Through the daily physical activity requirements, students in all school districts are required to achieve daily activity targets.
• Kids in kindergarten to Grade 7 will do 30 minutes of daily physical activity at school.
• Students in grades 10 to 12 will engage in 150 minutes of physical activity per week as part of their graduation transition program.
Independent schools:
• There are 350 independent schools in B.C.
• Independent schools enrol more than 73,000 students, which is approximately 11 per cent of B.C.’s kindergarten to Grade 12 population.
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