VANCOUVER – B.C.’s premier is proposing a 10-year teachers’ contract in hopes of preventing labour acrimony from spilling into classrooms, but Christy Clark says expects opposition to the proposal that would benefit students and educators.

Clark says a spirit of co-operation is needed for the deal that means a Grade 2 student could graduate high school without the disruptions that have plagued public education in the province for decades.

Such an agreement would allow teachers to go on out on strike and index teachers’ salaries to increases given to nurses, college faculty and other public-sector employees.

A proposed education policy council that would resolve issues such as professional development away from the bargaining table would include the government, school trustees and the teachers’ union.

The contract would also provide $100 million for an education investment fund and allow teachers a say in how the money is used in classrooms.

Education Minister Don McRae, a teacher, says labour woes have caused instability for parents and students eight times since 1991.