Much more than a computer glitch

By Editorial - Salmon Arm Observer  Published: September 20, 2011 6:00 PM
 How do you feel about flushing $89 million down the drain? That’s what it appears the provincial government has done when it spent that amount on an exclusive province-wide software system designed to keep track of students’ records. The system, known as the British Columbia enterprise  Student Information System (BCeSIS), has been the subject of numerous complaints by teachers and school administrators that it was prone to crashes and was difficult to access. Indeed, the whole system went down last year just as school was starting up. To add insult to injury, the government spent another $250,000 on a report that concluded the system was not user-friendly, didn’t provide satisfactory reports and was difficult to service. It recommends scrapping the whole thing and instead, buying existing software on the market. While Education Minister and Shuswap MLA George Abbott defended the system, saying it needs replacement because it is older technology, he also admitted there were “glitches.” He added  that he would be consulting with school districts, teachers and others about what is needed in a new system. We certainly hope so. This was taxpayers’ money — money that at a time of continued cutbacks in the education system could have gone to fund teachers, libraries, special education assistants or playgrounds. When you think of all the good $89 million could have done for students, this debacle is more than shocking. It’s a tragic waste of resources.