Alberta government announces plans for new schools, critics say it’s just politics

Alberta's government has unveiled plans to construct 41 new schools across the province, a move intended to create more than 39,000 "new and upgraded student spaces." Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides stated that rapid population growth and high immigration have placed significant pressure on the province's education system.

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high immigration and population growth in the province has “put some significant pressure on our education system.”

The proposed schools are slated for distribution throughout Alberta, with 16 planned for Calgary, 11 for Edmonton, and the remaining 14 in other areas. The government claims its "Schools Now" program will expedite construction, potentially accelerating the timeline for most schools by six to nine months. Of the projects, 12 are expected to be completed within the current fiscal year, 19 are approved to begin construction, and 22 are moving from planning to the design phase.

However, the announcement has drawn skepticism from advocacy groups. Wing Li, spokesperson for "Support Our Students," acknowledged the need for more schools, noting that many are already full, leading to admissions lotteries. Yet, she criticized the government's focus on fast-tracking planning and design stages, stating it's not the same as actual construction.

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fast-tracking schools from the planning to the design stage isn’t like putting “shovels in the ground.”

Li also raised concerns about a potential shortage of qualified teachers. "We know that there aren’t enough professionals in this province entering that teaching profession or staying in the teaching profession," she said. "So having four walls and windows is great, but who is going to be teaching face-to-face in these classrooms with this expanded school population?" Li urged the province to implement recruitment and retention programs alongside construction acceleration.

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We know that there aren’t enough professionals in this province entering that teaching profession or staying in the teaching profession. So having four walls and windows is great, but who is going to be teaching face-to-face in these classrooms with this expanded school population?