Abbotsford Students Demand Improved Study Spaces and Facilities

Abbotsford high school students have voiced their opinions on school conditions through a recently conducted survey, highlighting a desire for more quiet study spaces and better washroom facilities. The survey, organized by the Abbotsford students-led Youth Health Accountability Network (YHAN), gathered anonymous feedback from over 1,200 students in Grades 9 to 12 across the Abbotsford School District. The results will be analyzed and presented to district leaders to influence future policy decisions.

The initiative was spearheaded by Ayra Dhillon, a Grade 10 student at Abbotsford Senior Secondary School, who has been active in the district’s Student Voice program since its inception in 2021. This program allows students to discuss various school and community issues weekly. Dhillon collaborated with Bruce Cunnings, the assistant superintendent, to develop the survey over a span of three months. She emphasized the importance of giving students a platform to express their needs and concerns regarding school policies.

Dhillon remarked, “We realized that when the school district or school board makes new policies, not a lot of it includes the concerns, suggestions, or recommendations that students have.” Cunnings indicated that the board was eager to learn from students this year to identify areas for improvement.

The survey results revealed several key insights. A significant number of students expressed a need for more designated quiet areas for studying. “There was an unbelievable number of students who requested that certain areas in the school would be just for studying or downtime,” Dhillon shared. Additionally, many students voiced their support for reinstating late starts, a practice previously implemented on Fridays known as “SLO days.” According to Dhillon, hundreds of students expressed a desire to bring this schedule back.

The survey also highlighted issues with school washrooms, with approximately 33% of respondents indicating that improvements in this area were crucial. Students reported frequent problems with non-functioning hand dryers, a lack of paper towels, and inadequate cleanliness. In light of the findings, Dhillon plans to propose three policy recommendations at an upcoming school board meeting: reinstating late starts, establishing quiet study spaces, and adding structured study blocks during the school day.

She explained, “The hardest part about being a student is that sometimes you don’t get the space to breathe throughout the day.” Dhillon noted that the current class schedule can be overwhelming, impacting both retention and workload management.

The survey findings are not only relevant to Abbotsford but may inspire similar initiatives in neighboring districts. Dhillon mentioned that students in both Chilliwack and Surrey might undertake their own surveys to present their concerns to local school boards.

In addition to the qualitative feedback, the survey included multiple-choice questions that evaluated students’ confidence and support systems. Insights from the survey showed that 59% of students felt “somewhat” confident in their ability to succeed in classes, while 48% typically sought help from friends before turning to teachers. Overall, 43% of respondents indicated they do not receive enough breaks or downtime during the school day.

The survey also posed open-ended questions to gauge students’ suggestions for improvement. Many responses called for flexible time blocks, more breaks, and enhanced mental health resources. Notably, 40% of students expressed skepticism about the relevance of Grade 10 and 12 literacy and numeracy assessments.

The Abbotsford School District is now positioned to consider these findings as it strives to enhance the educational environment for its students. By prioritizing student feedback, the district aims to create a more inclusive and supportive learning atmosphere that aligns with the needs of its diverse student body.