VANCOUVER - It's back to the books next week for a half-million British Columbia students.
They will begin their school year now that B-C's strike-weary public school teachers have ratified a new six-year contract by a margin of 86 per cent.
The agreement, forged early Tuesday after six days of bargaining, was approved despite some teachers who feel the deal falls short on improving classroom conditions.
B-C Teachers' Federation president Jim Iker says while the deal isn't perfect, it provides gains for teachers, protects their rights and increases support for students.
In a statement after the vote results were announced, Education Minister Peter Fassbender said it's time to "focus on the path forward."
The six-year deal includes a 7.25 per cent salary increase, improvements in extended health benefits and the teaching-on-call rates.
It also has a 400-million dollar education fund to hire specialist teachers and provides an additional 105-million for dispatching of retroactive grievances.
Teachers will enter classrooms today to prepare for the new school year and it will be up to individual boards to decide whether classes begin on Monday or Tuesday.
