Money Talks: Define Basic Education and Pay For It, Say School Boards and Parents
Release date: September 22, 2005
The associations representing parents and school boards heartily welcomed
Education
Minister Gene Zwozdesky’s plan to define basic education; but challenged
the minister to
fully fund whatever definition he comes up with. In a joint statement, the
Alberta School
Boards Association and the Alberta Home and School Councils’ Association
today said:
We support Alberta's definition of basic education as outlined in Ministerial Order
004/98. We also believe that the requirements specified in the definition must be
fully funded. (Note: The ministerial order is available at: http://education.gov.ab.ca/educationguide/pol-plan/polregs/adobe/422.pdf)In today's fast-paced world, Alberta's education system will continue to change in
response to new circumstances and new demands. Albertans' expectations of the
education system will continue to evolve. And Alberta's definition of basic education
will continue to change in response to the issues and challenges of the future.
Regardless of how basic education is defined, one thing is clear. Printed words on a
page are not enough. Funding is needed to translate words and ideas into realities in
the classroom.To put it bluntly, money talks. The government must be prepared to fund what it
believes is a basic, core level of education for all students in Alberta, no matter where
they live. If funding is not forthcoming, the definition of basic education must be
changed. And Albertans must lower their expectations of the public education
system recognizing this is tied to how much the government is willing to invest.
For more information contact: Orvella Small, President, Alberta Home and School Councils’ Association at 1.403.652.0716 or Maureen Kubinec, ASBA President at 1.780.349.1229 or 1.780.349.6122.
The Alberta School Boards Association serves and represents all Alberta’s public, separate and francophone school boards.
