New funding for school curriculum recognizes Alberta’s Centennial
Edmonton... An additional $12.8 million in new monies will be allocated to Alberta's Grades 1 to 12 classrooms to purchase textbooks and other classroom resources for the current and upcoming school years. The new funding will, in particular, support the implementation of a new social studies curriculum to begin in September 2005, a timely recognition of Alberta's Centennial year.
"Text books are basic, necessary and important learning tools for Alberta's students that improve literacy, research and study skills," said Gene Zwozdesky, Minister of Alberta Education. "The $12.8 million investment will assist teachers with classroom learning objectives and give school administrators flexibility as they prepare for the introduction of the new school curriculum."
The $12.8 million will be distributed on a per-student basis, with all school boards and charter schools receiving funds with their March grant payments. Providing the funds on a per-student basis is in keeping with the flexibility of the new funding framework and allows school jurisdictions to plan for the best use of the new resource and textbook funds. Accredited and funded private schools in the province will also receive their share of this funding.
The updated Social Studies program will include a greater focus on Canadian and Alberta history and focus on the core concepts of citizenship and identity. The revised program provides opportunity to look at ideas, events and issues from multiple perspectives or multiple points of view - including Francophone and Aboriginal. The new curriculum will be gradually introduced throughout Grades 1 to 12, with a completion date of September 2009.
The new funding brings the total support for textbooks and other classroom resources to almost $33 million in the last two years, including the $20 million provided to school jurisdictions in 2003-04.
"The revised social studies program will ensure that students are well informed about their province and country, and will help them to better understand the challenges of a complex world," added Zwozdesky.
This is the first major revision of the current K-12 Social Studies curriculum in over 20 years.
