Surrey Parents Question Modular Additions in Overcrowded Schools

Parents Voice Concerns Over Modular Classrooms

The B.C. government is touting new modular classrooms as a quick fix for Surrey schools facing severe overcrowding. But parent leaders argue the additions are a temporary Band-Aid, not a sustainable plan.

Anne Whitmore, president of the Surrey District Parents Advisory Committee (DPAC), acknowledged modulars are an upgrade from aging portables. They often feature HVAC systems, proper windows, bathrooms, and even small office space. Still, she stressed they do not fully expand capacity when they replace existing portables rather than add fresh classrooms.

Province Races to Add New Spaces

Provincial Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma recently announced 700 new classroom seats in Surrey. Across the province, more than 3,000 new spaces will open this fall, with thousands more underway. She highlighted modular additions as a way to build faster and at lower cost while keeping pace with surging enrolment.

“Three thousand across the province are opening this fall, and in Surrey alone, an additional 4,700 are actively under construction,” Ma noted, calling it the fastest expansion of student spaces ever delivered in B.C.

Parents Challenge the Numbers

Whitmore disputes how the government frames its classroom count. She explained that 40 modular classrooms in Surrey actually replace 19 portables. The net increase is only 21 new classrooms, not 40 as announced.

She urged the government to present figures more transparently. “It’s increasing capacity by 21. Let’s be honest about what’s really being added,” Whitmore said.

Long-Term Impact Still Unclear

Beyond the numbers, parents worry about the long-term impact of modulars. While they provide more teaching space, they do not expand essential school facilities like gyms, libraries, or administrative areas.

Whitmore emphasized that parents are not opposing government efforts, but they want clear planning. In meetings with officials, she has asked for a defined strategy to address overcrowding and a broader look at long-term funding priorities.

Government Defends Modular Approach

Minister Ma defended modular additions, saying most families prefer them to outdated portables. “These are indistinguishable from regular construction for the vast majority of people,” she explained.

Still, Surrey parents continue to press for open conversations, long-term commitments, and decisions that match the realities of a rapidly growing student population.

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