As we continue through the academic 2023/24 school year, I think it is important that we share thoughts, reflections and hopes for the new year. I’m beyond excited about what this new year will bring us.
I want to start by thanking Alberta’s amazing teachers and other educational staff. I’ve got two daughters, one in Grade 1 and another in Grade 4. I’ve always been impressed by the quality of instruction, care and attention they receive on a daily basis. The work you do is a vital part of the success of Alberta’s education system and our students.
As the 2023 school year began, it was clear that school boards across the province were seeing record enrolment levels. From April 1, 2022 to April 1, 2023, our population grew by 200,000. We are seeing the largest population boom since 1914. As a second generation Canadian, I’m glad that people are once again looking to Canada and Alberta as beacons of hope. To help address these extreme enrolment pressures, I announced an in-year funding boost of $30 million to help our school boards.
The 2023 year ended on a high note, with the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results. Alberta students scored first in Canada in reading, first in Canada in science and second in Canada in math. In addition, our students scored exceptionally well against international competitors. Globally we ranked second in reading, second in science and seventh in math. This is a testament to the work you do every day and your dedication to Alberta’s students.
In early 2024, I plan to provide all Albertans with an update on the new social studies draft curriculum, more engagement with education partners, teachers and other groups, and piloting planned to commence in the 2024/2025 school year. As this process continues, I’m encouraged to see all the collaboration and engagement going into the developmental process. I look forward to continuing engaging openly throughout this process. If you are curious about more details or next steps, please check out https://www.alberta.ca/curriculum-how-we-got-here.
During the next year, I am looking forward to sharing more details on our plans to improve career education programming in our schools, significantly expand the number of schools in our growing communities, explore incentives to support the recruitment and retention of teachers, and strengthen life skills and financial literacy in our curriculum.
As we look ahead to the new year, I am excited to continue to work alongside you and our school boards to ensure that our students continue to receive the highest quality of education so they can succeed now and into the future. Once again, thank you for your work every day to ensure that Alberta students receive exemplary quality of care and attention in the classroom. ❚
Education Minister
