Students Rally to Save South Surrey-White Rock Learning Centre

Students from the South Surrey-White Rock Learning Centre made headlines this year as they campaigned to prevent the closure of their school, which is set to occur due to budget cuts in the Surrey school district. Despite their passionate efforts, the Surrey school board approved its billion-dollar budget in May 2025, which included the closure of the learning centre. The decision has left many students feeling disheartened, as they credit the school with providing them a supportive environment that has transformed their lives.

In a statement made on January 10, 2025, student Prasayis Hotti shared her personal journey, revealing that the learning centre offered her a second chance when she felt hopeless. “I never thought I could be something or be someone,” the 18-year-old said. “Ever since I came to this school, I realized that I could actually be somebody.” Hotti’s aspirations have shifted towards becoming a flight attendant, a dream that seemed unattainable before attending the learning centre.

The upcoming closure has significant implications for students like Hotti and her peers. The lease for the South Surrey-White Rock site is set to expire in June 2025. According to Gary Tymoschuk, chair of the Surrey school board, the building requires extensive renovations. As a result, the board has proposed transitioning students to “alternate programs” at nearby high schools, including Earl Marriott, Elgin, Semiahmoo, and Grandview Heights Secondary. However, students have expressed concerns about the effectiveness of these alternatives.

Another student, Spirit Broomfield, whose family has a history with the learning centre, emphasized its crucial role in her education. “I would be a drop-out if not for the learning centre,” she stated. Broomfield worries that the proposed alternatives will not provide the same supportive environment that is essential for many students facing challenges such as bullying, mental health issues, and social anxiety.

Challenges Facing the Learning Centre

The closure of the South Surrey-White Rock Learning Centre is part of a larger trend affecting learning centres across the Surrey school district, aimed at addressing overcrowding and persistent funding shortfalls. The Guildford Learning Centre has already merged with the North Surrey Learning Centre, resulting in cost savings for the district. Additionally, the City Central Learning Centre is set to close and reopen as an elementary school, with plans for relocating its students still undetermined.

Students had hoped to dispel rumors about their school’s potential closure until they received formal notification on January 8, 2025. “It feels like they don’t care about us, that they’re trying to push us to the side,” remarked Octavia Macdonald, a 17-year-old student who credits the learning centre with her academic success. “Without this school, I probably would’ve dropped out or worse.”

The Surrey school board has acknowledged the difficult nature of this decision. Tymoschuk stated, “The board wrestled with this decision. It wasn’t taken lightly by any means.” He emphasized that the alternate programs would be structured to meet students’ needs, including smaller classroom sizes and tailored support.

Calls for Action and Alternative Solutions

The pending closure has prompted responses from local politicians, including Trevor Halford, the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Surrey-White Rock. He has urged the provincial government to reconsider the closure and provide necessary funding. “The Learning Centre provides a lifeline for students who’ve fallen through the cracks of the mainstream system,” Halford stated. “If they let this school program close, their choice is clear: kids with diverse needs aren’t worth the investment.”

For students, the prospect of returning to mainstream schools is daunting. Hotti articulated a common sentiment among her peers, saying, “If you put us back in those schools, we’re going to feel more stupid than the other kids.” Her classmate Jordyn Dempster, who struggled in mainstream high school, expressed how the learning centre has been a safe space: “Here I feel like I can be myself and no one will judge me.”

As the situation unfolds, students are planning to reach out to the school board for alternative solutions that would better serve their educational and emotional needs. Broomfield highlighted the misconceptions surrounding learning centres, stating, “Most kids here aren’t even dropouts; they just need that extra help or that comforting space to help them work better.”

The future of the South Surrey-White Rock Learning Centre remains uncertain, but the students’ commitment to advocating for their right to education illustrates the profound impact such institutions can have on vulnerable youth.