Alberta's public education system – fundamental to outstanding lifestyle Albertans enjoy
Release date: September 4, 2003
As a fervent advocate for public education, students and the communities we
represent, the Alberta School Boards Association is proud to talk about all
that is strong and vibrant about the schools that serve more than 500,000 young
people in all corners of this province. That’s part of our job – to
tell the taxpayers who foot the bill about what they are getting for their
dollar.
I visit a lot of schools and want to reassure Albertan taxpayers that they
are getting great value for their investment. Our public education system – public,
separate and francophone schools – is a jewel. I have compared notes
with education leaders from across Canada and in other countries. What we sometimes
take for granted – a provincially developed curriculum, high standards
for the professionals who teach in our schools, built-in accountability systems
through standardized testing; and students who routinely outpace their counterparts
on national and international tests– makes our school system the envy
of all.
On international tests, Alberta students scored the highest marks in the world
in reading. Our students’ marks were among the top three in science and
mathematics. Thirteen and 16 year old students attending Alberta schools perform
as well as students across Canada in writing, and better than Canadian students
overall in mathematics and science. Provincial surveys also tell us that our
most direct consumers – parents – are pleased with what is happening
in our schools for our students, with 84 per cent of parents indicating they
are satisfied. Is there room for improvement? Absolutely – we always
want to do better and Alberta’s school boards are committed to doing
their
part to bring those figures up.
Because of this commitment, the ASBA will continue
to speak out loudly when we see gaps in the system which are coming between
students and the public education they all deserve – that’s the
job we have been elected to do. Hence our continued effort to talk about the
fall-out
school boards are experiencing as they deal with the 14.09 per cent salary
increase imposed by the independent arbitrator last year. The $142 million
annual shortfall between what school boards received for teacher salary increases
and the imposed settlement is having a deleterious effect on the services we
can provide to students. We must give children the resources and supports
they need to succeed and that means tackling the issue of large classes and
even more importantly the question of responding to the need of individual
students in classrooms which serve students with very diverse ability and knowledge
levels.
That said, on this first week of school, parents can send their children to
school confident that a cadre of well-trained professionals are committed
to helping nurture their children’s gifts and overcome their weaknesses.
Other citizens who drive by the local school building can count on Alberta’s
public education system to shape young people who will take their place in
society as adults. All those who contribute to the public education system
are committed to making it the very best for the students of our province.
As this school year starts, let’s take a moment to celebrate Alberta’s public education system. It is fundamental to the outstanding lifestyle Albertans enjoy.
For more information contact: Michele Mulder, ASBA President at 1.780.679.5627 (cell).
The Alberta School Boards Association serves and represents all Alberta’s public, separate and francophone school boards.
