Province investing in education, keeping up with enrolment growth
By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on July 24, 2024.
asmith@medicinehatnews.com The province has announced increased funding for education to help keep ahead of rising operating costs. “Alberta’s population is booming and causing unprecedented growth in our education system, adding a historic number of new students across the province for the 2024-25 school year,” a release states. It added that the government recognizes and sympathizes with the challenges school authorities face, and as such, is investing $215 million to help with these pressures. “More and more people are choosing to make Alberta their home, and that means our K-12 schools are home to a growing number of students,” said Premier Danielle Smith. “We’re providing school authorities with additional spaces and resources, so they can continue the important work they do educating young Albertans.” Every school authority across the province will receive a share of the $125-million increase for operational funding, depending on the number of the students each serves. The funding is intended to be used by school authorities to ensure support for enrolment growth by hiring additional teachers and educational assistants. “As cost pressures continue to increase, we want to ensure that education funding is not being redirected away from students and classrooms,” said Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides. “The additional funding we are providing to school authorities will help protect the classroom experience for our students.” 7-6
