The Ministry of Children and Family Development has added $1.4 million to a bursary fund that helps B.C. youth formerly in government care pursue educational and vocational studies.

The following facts provide a snapshot of British Columbia's public education system.

B.C. has an excellent network of post-secondary institutions with support systems in place to help students beginning their first year of post-secondary education cope with their new surroundings as they begin the next phase of their lives.

Beginning in September 2013, the Provincial Awards Program will be revised to provide school districts with greater flexibility and better align with the BC Education Plan.

As students return to class this September to advance their academic skills, École Phoenix Middle school will also be improving, as construction begins on a seismic upgrade. The upgrade is part of the government's Seismic Mitigation Program.

More than 400,000 students will enrol this year in at least one course at British Columbia's 25 public post-secondary institutions where they will attend one of the many campuses, satellite offices or learning centres.

Thirty eight First Nations individuals will receive forestry-specific training and work experience through a $500,000 Labour Market Sector Solutions (LMSS) partnership between the B.C. government, the First Nations Forestry Council and industry partners.

This school year in British Columbia, we expect more than 400,000 students to enrol in at least one course at our public post-secondary institutions.