Minister Nicolaides – Op Ed

The Alberta Advantage

How Alberta is innovating their education system and giving students an advantage

Alberta is the economic engine of Canada. Our booming economy has become a beacon of opportunity, attracting people from across Canada and around the world. In 2023, we experienced record-breaking growth, with more than 200,000 people moving to Alberta in search of jobs, affordability and a high-quality of life.

While this growth has been a tremendous help to Alberta’s success, it has also required our government to take clear and decisive action to ensure our health, education, and other core social programs remain world-class as they serve our growing population.

When I became Minister of Education in 2023, I was given a mandate by Premier Danielle Smith to ensure the more than 800,000 students enrolled in Alberta’s Kindergarten to Grade 12 school system receive a high-quality education that prepares them for their future and guarantees their success in the classroom and beyond.

The latest results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) show that Alberta continues to be a leader in education across Canada and around the world. Nationally, Alberta students rank first in reading and science and second only behind Quebec in math. Globally, we ranked second in reading and science and seventh in math, within statistical deviation.

Behind this success in the classroom are school authorities with vision, teachers with passion, and a government committed to innovating how and where students learn.

CHOICE IN EDUCATION

School choice has been part of our province’s education system since the 1970s. Today, Alberta offers parents more choice in where their kids learn than any other province in Canada.

Our government believes so strongly in the rights of parents to choose the kind of education their children receive, that in 2020, we passed the Choice in Education Act, officially recognizing public, separate, Francophone, independent, and charter schools, as well as early childhood services and home education programs, as being valued and integral to our education system.

Alberta is the only province in Canada that allows charter schools to operate. These schools offer specialized programming through tailored learning and teaching style and approaches, philosophy, or pedagogy not already offered by other schools in their area. Independent (schools can focus on a specific sport, the arts, or a particular faith, culture, or language, to support Alberta’s increasingly diverse population.

Demand for these unique institutions is growing, demonstrating the strong interest and need for the specialized programming they offer. With dozens of new charter, independent, and collegiate schools scheduled to open over the coming years, this unique education model is also creating additional classroom spaces for our growing student population.

I believe it’s our job, as elected officials, to provide parents and students with as many high-quality education pathways as possible. It’s empowering for students to find an education model that speaks to their unique interests and needs; to find themselves among peers with similar interests and teachers equipped to meet their needs – be it teaching in another language, enriching locally developed curriculum with religious content, building athletic or arts-enhanced programming, or training for a skilled trade before even graduating from high school.

DUAL CREDIT AND CAREER PATHWAYS

As Alberta’s economy grows, so does the demand for a skilled workforce. Our government has built an education system that is equipping Alberta’s youth with the knowledge and skills they need to find meaningful employment when they enter the workforce.

Alberta Education has a dual credit framework and provides funding that enables school authorities to work with post-secondary institutions, and industry partners to create dozens of dual-credit pathways. These are designed to give high school students a head-start on their next stage of life, be it continuing their education, earning a trade designation, or transitioning directly into the workforce.

Optional and career-focused, dual-credit courses allow students in grades 10, 11, and 12 to earn both high school credits and credits that count toward a post-secondary certificate, diploma, or degree. These hands-on programs are gaining popularity among students, eager to learn and develop practical skills. In the 2022-23 school year, more than 50 school authorities partnered with post-secondary institutions to provide dual-credit programming to more than 2,100 high school students.

Expanding these opportunities for students not only brings value to their high school education, but also prepares them for success after graduation. New or enhanced dual credit opportunities in Alberta schools include carpentry and welding apprenticeships, training in artificial intelligence, health and agriculture technologies, and medical, among others.

In 2021, Alberta’s government established collegiate schools as a new education model to create pathways for students to move directly into careers in their chosen field. In partnership with post-secondary institutions and industry partners, collegiates offer enriched programming, specialized facilities, and enhanced learning opportunities for students in grades 7 to 12.

There are currently five collegiate schools operating across Alberta, with another seven set to open for the 2024/25 school year. Each of these schools has a specific focus on a high demand career or industry, including: science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), environmental science, aviation, agriculture, health care, and commercial driving. Career-based programming not only prepares students for the jobs they want, it also supports job creators with the skilled workers they need.

LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE

As Alberta grows and the economy diversifies, our education system must innovate and diversify along with it.

There is no single model or approach to education that works for every student, which is why choice has become a fundamental pillar of Alberta’s education system. Rather than demanding students adapt to a single learning style, we have adapted our school system to better meet the needs of our diverse student population.

At the same time, we are committed to ensuring our youth are prepared for life beyond the classroom. We want our children to be fulfilled, successful, and active in building our province, as we prepare today’s students to become tomorrow’s leaders, innovators, and changemakers.