Students in School District 43 won’t have to ask a teacher or counsellor for menstrual products after the Education Minister made a decision to make them free in school washrooms by the end of 2019.
Currently, SD43 offers feminine hygiene products for free, but girls have to ask, according to a school district spokesperson.
“There are no dispensers/machines but students are able to access products (at no charge) they may need by approaching any staff person they feel comfortable with including counselors, teachers, support workers, office staff or administrators,” Ken Hoff told the Tri-City News in an email.
But by next year, or sooner, SD43 will have to provide the products for free in washrooms under the ministerial order announced by education minister Rob Fleming.
Fleming said it's time to normalize and equalize access to menstrual products in schools, which he suggested would create a better learning environment for students.
However, making sure the products are free appears to be one of the main reasons for the order, something that’s not an issue if girls know they can ask for them in local schools.
"Students should never have to miss school, extracurricular, sports or social activities because they can't afford or don't have access to menstrual products," Fleming stated in a press release.
He said current research indicates that one in seven students has missed school due to their periods because they cannot afford products.
Schools, will, however, get help to provide the products for free as the province will provide $300,000 in startup funding to B.C. schools.
The government is also providing a one-time grant of $95,000 to support the United Way Period Promise Research Project, to fund menstrual products for up to 10 non-profit agencies and research into how best to provide services and products for people who menstruate.
The announcement comes just weeks after New Westminster made history when it became the first school district in the province to pay for menstrual products and dispensers in all of its schools. That change was prompted by a request from Douglas College professor and Vancouver parent Selina Tribe to New West school trustees.
The Burnaby School District also voted unanimously in January of this year to direct staff to look into the cost of installing the free dispensers.
However, SD43 already provides free menstrual products upon request and inquiries found that having the girls ask for them was not a barrier.
“When queries were conducted about the process no one expressed concerns about the process and felt that it was not a barrier to students and was, in fact, supportive, discreet and respectful,” Hoff further stated.
— with files from the Burnaby Now
