The Surrey School District is launching a hybrid learning pilot this year to cope with growing student numbers and limited classroom space. Surrey’s enrollment topped 83,000 last year, up 1,500 from the previous year.
For years, the district used around 400 portable classrooms to handle extra students. Surrey Board of Education Chair Gary Tymoschuk says adding more portables is no longer viable.
“The province does not fund portables. They fund school buildings, but not temporary classrooms. We’ve had to find other solutions,” Tymoschuk explained.
Instead of adding more portables, the district extended school days in some high schools and is now testing hybrid learning this fall.
The optional program will let some students in grades 10 to 12 take up to three courses partly online, using tools like Microsoft Teams and Zoom, and partly in-person on a rotating schedule. The pilot aims to teach 21st-century skills and reflect today’s hybrid work world.
Anne Whitmore, president of the Surrey District Parent Advisory Council, says parents’ reactions are mixed.
“On one hand, this mirrors the reality of work today, where many people work remotely. It prepares students for the future,” she said.
“On the other hand, for parents who work from home, having kids learning at home in a less structured environment can be disruptive.”
Whitmore argues that hybrid learning, extended days, and the reliance on portables all reflect long-standing underfunding of Surrey schools. Recent cuts, she notes, have affected alternative learning centers, Grade 7 band programs, and education assistant support.
“These reductions limit students’ ability to fully participate in education. They may feel small now, but they have lasting effects on their future,” Whitmore added.
B.C. Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma said the province has committed $1 billion to new and expanded schools in Surrey. This funding has created 9,000 new seats, with 11,000 more in progress.
Ma said prefabricated school additions can deliver classrooms twice as fast as traditional construction, while still maintaining comfort and learning quality.
Parents, however, say they are frustrated with unclear planning and accountability.
“We want someone to say, ‘I am responsible. We have a plan,’” Whitmore said. “Right now, parents are being bounced between different offices, and no one takes clear responsibility.”
As Surrey navigates overcrowding, hybrid learning is one of several solutions the district hopes will ease pressure while preparing students for modern work environments.
