May 5, 2004 For Immediate Release

The future of K-12 education in BC will be the subject of a panel discussion at UNBC next week.

Educators, superintendents, board chairs, teachers, and government officials will all be part of a public panel discussion at UNBC that will explore current issues in education and future directions.

The Future of K-12 Education in British Columbia
Thursday, May 13 at 7:30pm
UNBC Canfor Theatre

Panel:
Moderator - Harro Van Brummelen (Trinity Western University)
Budd Hall (University of Victoria)
Ed Napier (Superintendent, Quesnel School District)
Dick Chambers (Superintendent, Prince George School District)
Gordon Milne (Superintendent, Nechako Lakes School District)
Jim Yurkowski (Chairperson, Prince George District Parent Advisory Council)
Carolyn Rowland (President, Prince George District Teachers Association)
Ben Berland (Prince George School District Aboriginal Education Consultant)
Brian Chappell (Principal, Harwin Elementary School)
Marie Crowther and Ms. Laura Bickerton (British Columbia College of Teachers)
Barry Anderson (Ministry of Education)

"Education is an issue that affects all of us, whether we have children in the school system or not," says Paul Madak, Chair of the Education program at UNBC. "We've seen the impact of school closures and all of us want an education system that is challenging and exciting for young people. At the same time, the first students in our Bachelor of Education program are graduating this year, with many of them destined for schools around the North."

UNBC has both master's and bachelor's degree programs in Education, with students in Prince George, Terrace, Hazelton, and Fort St John.