Government to regulate teachers' professional development

New changes were introduced in the B.C. legislature Thursday morning that will monitor how teachers use professional development days, or Pro-D days.

If the bill passes, the provincial government will be able to regulate teachers’ professional development to ensure teachers remain current with new education techniques and attend courses on Pro-D Days or during their own time.

“The research is very clear that one of the most important ways to support students is to focus on quality teaching. That’s why these amendments set a foundation on which the province will work co-operatively with the teaching profession to build a truly modern framework for professional development,” says Education Minister Peter Fassbender.

The government will work with the B.C. Teachers Federation, who currently controls the content of professional development days, to implement these changes.