'We're Out of Paper': Surrey Teachers Say Funding Shortfall Hurting Students

In one of Canada’s fastest-growing school districts, students in Surrey, B.C., have recently faced an unexpected barrier to learning — there wasn’t enough paper to go around.

Classrooms in multiple Surrey schools reported running out of basic supplies like photocopy paper, forcing students to share worksheets or write on scraps, according to the Surrey Teachers' Association (STA).

“It’s not just paper. Teachers are also running out of tissues and paper towels,” said STA president Lizanne Foster. “It’s a combination of factors, all rooted in chronic underfunding.”

Foster says supply shortages are compounded by outdated or limited access to technology, like iPads and laptops, making it impossible to switch fully to digital learning — especially in lower-income schools.

The Surrey School District confirmed the paper shortages but said they were resolved last week after principals flagged the issue. Still, the incident has raised broader concerns about whether schools have the resources they need.

“There has been no deliberate decision to cut paper,” said Surrey Board of Education chair Gary Tymoschuk. “But there is a budget crunch, and frankly, there’s just not enough funding to cover all our needs.”

Surging Enrolment, Stagnant Budgets

Surrey has one of the largest and most diverse student populations in the province, and enrolment continues to rise year after year. While the province says school budgets are adjusted to reflect the number of students, local officials say the reality doesn’t match the rhetoric.

“We’re being asked to do more with the same or less,” Tymoschuk said. “It’s not just about paper — it’s about classroom space, support staff, and modern tools to teach.”

The Ministry of Education said in a statement that Surrey received over $1 billion in base funding this year, more than any other district in B.C., and an additional $2 million in supplemental funding.

It added that districts receive an average of $13,600 per student this year, slightly more than the previous year — but did not say whether that increase keeps up with inflation or the rising cost of supplies.

Foster says it doesn’t.

“Teachers are covering the gap themselves — buying paper, crayons, books, even soap and Kleenex,” she said. “We’ve seen teachers posting online wish lists and crowdfunding just to stock their classrooms.”

Teachers 'Making Do'

While supply budgets are meant to stretch through the school year, Foster says rising costs, larger classes, and outdated infrastructure are forcing educators to improvise.

“Teachers are creative — we always find a way,” she said. “But at some point, the question becomes: why are we expected to fill the gaps in a publicly funded education system?”

She worries that if budget pressures persist, the burden will fall more heavily on individual schools, staff — and ultimately, students.

“They deserve more than having to share photocopies or bring their own toilet paper,” Foster said.

For now, the immediate paper shortages have been resolved — but educators say the issue underscores a deeper funding challenge in public education that won’t be fixed with one delivery of reams.