BC Teachers’ Union Denies Funding and Recognition to Holocaust Education Group: Advocates
Jewish organizations have reported that the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation has refused to acknowledge a Holocaust education group as a specialist, thus disqualifying them from receiving union funding as an educational resource.
In a joint statement from the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, it was revealed that the union declined to recognize the Holocaust and Antisemitism Educators Association as a specialist group.
The establishment of this association was in response to the B.C. government’s decision to include Holocaust education as a mandatory component of the curriculum last year.
During an unrelated press conference on June 5, Premier David Eby did not address the conflict directly but emphasized the importance of high school graduates learning about the six million Jews killed by the Nazi regime during World War II.
Eyal Daniel, the president of the association, expressed shock at the decision and hopes that the teachers’ federation will reconsider its stance.
Nico Slobinsky, vice-president at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, stated that the association met all the necessary criteria for recognition by the union and noted that no one could recall a previous instance where a specialist association had been turned down.
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The BCTF made a statement on the social platform X, affirming their commitment to combat hate and discrimination, and collaborate with the Ministry of Education and Child Care to integrate mandatory Holocaust education in B.C. schools.
