International student enrolment has nose-dived due to the global pandemic and public school teachers are facing layoffs as school districts across the region scramble to offset millions of dollars in lost revenue.
The Greater Victoria School District 61聽said 33 full-time teaching positions are聽being cut and $6.3 million will be lost as a result of international student enrolment dropping by almost half in 2020-21.
School District 61 typically welcomes about 1,000 students from other countries each year, but with most international travel halted due to COVID-19, international student enrolment is expected to drop significantly this fall.
Associate superintendent Colin Roberts said no teachers have been officially laid off, but some have been identified as 鈥渆xcess to needs.鈥� Some of the full-time positions being cut might be offset by teachers who are retiring, Roberts said, so it will be weeks before teachers know if they鈥檒l be laid off. The cuts will primarily involve high school teachers.
鈥淲e understand that the lack of, not just job security, but even knowing where they might be teaching next year, is a stress that unfortunately they're going to have to live with for a few weeks until things become clearer to us at the district,鈥� Roberts said.
Greater Victoria Teachers鈥� Association president Winona Waldron said she was caught off guard when she learned about the cuts at the April 27 school district board meeting.
鈥淚 was shocked when that was announced,鈥� Waldron said. 鈥淭hat created a great deal of anxiety.鈥�
Waldron said many families are already struggling with job losses due to COVID-19, so the threat of staff cuts will add to the stress.
Public schools and post-secondary institutions work hard to attract international students because they pay school fees in full, with no government subsidy.
The Greater Victoria School District charges $15,000 a year for international students in all grades.
Roberts said the vast majority of international students who were in Greater Victoria have made it back to their home countries. Roberts is hoping international student enrolment will rebound by next spring.
Dave Eberwein, superintendent of the Saanich School District, said his district is planning for a 50% reduction in students coming from abroad.
鈥淭he uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to provide us with uncertainty as we plan for the 2020-21 school year,鈥� Eberwein said in an email. 鈥淲e anticipate a lower international student enrolment due to the strong potential of continuing travel restrictions and other mitigation protocols.鈥�
This could mean a loss of more than $2 million, which could result in staff reductions and layoffs, he said. 鈥淭here is a likelihood of staffing reductions because of the existence of fewer students in our buildings.鈥�
Sooke School District is predicting at least a 40% reduction in international students but superintendent Scott Stinson said there won鈥檛 be layoffs.
International enrolment brings in $2.6 million a year; the school district鈥檚 budget will include a reserve fund equal to that amount to handle a shortfall, Stinson said.
鈥淲hile we鈥檙e building our budget based on a 40% reduction, we鈥檙e putting away enough money in our reserve to be able to absorb an even further reduction without having to lay off staff,鈥� he said.
Because the Sooke district is constantly growing, it does not rely on international students as much as other districts, he said.
The enrolment uncertainty underscores the problem with relying on international students as a source of revenue, Waldron said.
鈥淢aybe school districts shouldn鈥檛 be using this as a possible source of revenue because it鈥檚 so temperamental depending on factors way outside of our city, our province and even our country,鈥� she said.
Waldron would like to see the Ministry of Education make up the budget shortfall to prevent layoffs.
In a statement, the Ministry of Education said it is working with districts to understand the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on school budgets this year and next.
鈥淭here may be fewer international students coming to B.C. as a result of the pandemic but it鈥檚 too early to know the whole picture as enrolments won鈥檛 be known until the fall,鈥� the ministry said.
