INNISFAIL – Alberta Minister of Education Adriana LaGrange has released new ministerial guidance regarding proposed updates to K-12 student curriculum.
The Ministerial Order on Student Learning was released Aug. 6, outlining a guiding vision for curriculum going forward.
The order places emphasis on essential core knowledge, evidence and fact-based materials, and a focus on literacy and numeracy throughout the entire curriculum, said LaGrange.
“This new ministerial order on student learning is a return to proven teaching methods that will set up Alberta’s students for rich personal and work lives,” said LaGrange.
“Moving forward, education will promote skills development and knowledge pursuit, equipping students to explore opportunities that will help them develop their talents and unleash their potential.”
Kurt Sacher, superintendent of schools for Chinook’s Edge School Division, said he's not concerned about the development of new curriculum.
“From an implementation point of view we don’t see significant challenges moving forward as these documents present themselves,” said Sacher.
“As far as the experience of the child in the classroom we don’t see changing a whole lot as the pilot comes into play next year for the new curriculum and then full implementation the year after.”
In particular, he said there is confidence in the division’s teachers’ ability to educate to a high standard.
“We feel that we are well ahead of the game and our teachers are on top of this,” he said. “Our teachers have created quality learning environments for many years and will continue to do so.
“We feel very strongly that our teachers have always been reasonable and practicable and they have always been deeply committed to what the latest research is saying around literacy and numeracy and they’ve moved that agenda forward in their classrooms throughout this current curriculum.”
The Ministerial Order on Student Learning includes a number of sections:
• The Vision for Students learning section states: “Students will gain knowledge and skills to form the foundations for successful and fulfilling lives, and make meaningful contributions to their communities and the world.”
• The Foundations for Learning section states, in part, “Literacy and numeracy are the foundational building blocks of learning. They shall be pervasive across all subjects and grades and specifically through using age-appropriate, complete texts of high quality in language classes and standard algorithms in mathematics.”
• The Outcomes for Learning knowledge development section states, in part, that, “Students will demonstrate mastery in foundational, subject-specific content, and a familiarity with and appreciation of the great works and ideas of world history, with an emphasis on the cultures and institutions that have shaped the history of Canada.”
• The Outcomes for Learning character development section states, in part, that, “Students develop honesty, integrity, and self-reliance through the application of their knowledge and skills. They recognize truth, beauty, and goodness through exposure to the best and most enduring art and writing across different time periods and places.”
• The Outcomes for Learning community engagement section states, in part, that, “Students will demonstrate an understanding of the needs, beliefs, and expectations of diverse communities, and identify connections that transcend difference.”
The order’s conclusion states, that, “Parents deserve the best from those who help them educate their children, and students will be coached to develop intellectual ability and practice skills by caring and knowledgeable teachers.”
The next step in the process will be the establishment of curriculum working groups that will focus on language arts, mathematics, social studies, sciences, arts, and wellness education, said LaGrange.
During a news conference on Aug. 6, NDP Education critic Sarah Hoffman said the release of the ministerial order is an attempt by the Kenney government to distract attention from its school re-launch plan, which she says will put students and teachers at unreasonable COVID-19 risk.
