A new report and poll data released by the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) reveals the vast majority of Albertans want the government to commit to five important solutions to the serious issues impacting the education system.
The Environics poll commissioned by the ATA shows that more than 80 per cent of Albertans agree the following five solutions are important:
- Implement a plan to reduce class sizes and complexity (83 per cent, pg. 10)
- Develop a modern inclusive curriculum (80 per cent, pg. 14)
- Provide learning supports to develop their full potential (96 per cent, pg. 19)
- Create a more equitable education system (83 per cent, pg. 24)
- Increase investments in public education (88 per cent, pg. 28)
“Teachers and parents across the province and across the political spectrum are calling on political parties to commit to fixing the serious issues facing our education system by focusing on these five priority solutions. Investing in public education and our children’s future should be a top issue for all political parties and voters.”
—Jason Schilling, president of the ATA
Alberta currently has the lowest per student funding in Canada, and 85 per cent of teachers have seen a dramatic increase in the complexity and diversity of student needs this school year.
In all, 800 Albertans participated in Stand for Public Education engagement roundtables conducted between November 2022 and March 2023. Today’s release reports on the findings of the roundtables, which informed the five solutions teachers are seeking. Roundtables were held in communities across Alberta and virtually, and included parents, community members, business and civil society representatives, teachers, elected school board and municipal leaders, and representatives of Indigenous and francophone communities.
The ATA’s Stand for Education campaign is mobilizing teachers to get involved in the election to make public education a top priority. Teachers joined President Schilling in front of a unique 3-D billboard on 16th Avenue in Calgary with 33 real chairs mounted to it to draw attention to the extent of overcrowding in classrooms.
Recent polling from TrendWatch Alberta shows 77 per cent of Albertans say K–12 education will be an important issue for them when determining how they will vote.