Alberta budget boosts career education, dual-credit programs

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on April 2, 2025.

newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com

The government is providing more than $100 million over the next three years in Budget 2025 to grow more career education programs designed to provide students more hands-on experience in demanding career fields.

Last Friday the minister of education said that investment will help schools and post-secondary institutions partner with the business sector to create programs in fields like the trades, computer programming, health care, agriculture and culinary arts.

“We are working to set students up for success by strengthening job-focused education … that will help students hit the ground running after they graduate,” said Demetrios Nicolaides, minister of education.

If the 2025 Budget is adopted the province will be providing $4.6 million to start new dual-credit programs and improve existing ones, with more than $500,000 provided to improve dual-credit health-care aide programs that will be provided by Alberta Seniors, Community and Social Services.

“Health-care aides play a critical role in ensuring Albertans receive the continuing care service they need to maintain their health, independence and quality of life,” said Jason Nixon, minster of seniors, community and social services.

Additionally $1.4 million is being invested to support students participating in off-campus career education programs through CAREERS, a non-profit that works with students to fill high-demand job fields including the trades, technology, health care, forestry and agriculture.

The budget will also provide more than $21 million to school districts to help fund specialized classrooms like carpentry workshops, film and media rooms, science labs, heavy equipment simulator and aircraft hangers within collegiate schools.

The province will also provide $6 million to support startup costs for new collegiate schools. Currently there are 12 collegiate schools operating in the province.

To raise public awareness around career education programs that are available to students, the province is also spending $8.4 million between 2026-28 for promotion costs.

Alberta’s finance minister tabled the 2025 Budget in February, investing a total of $102.4 million over three years to grow career education within the province.

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