With hundreds of thousands of young people having now returned Alberta schools following the summer break, district students will be facing many challenges and opportunities during the 2024-25 school year.
And, as always, the success of those same students will depend in large part on the efforts and input of stakeholders, including teachers, school staff, administrators, parents and others.
During the new school year more than 400,000 Alberta students will be part of a pilot project updating the K-6 Social Studies program.
About 40 K-6 teachers in the Chinook’s Edge School Division (CESD) will be taking part in the project, Jason Drent, associate superintendent of learning services, told the Albertan.
Whether the new curriculum will prove to be a long-term success remains to be seen. What is known is that a major change to one of the core subjects taught in Alberta’s schools must be well managed and, if necessary, changed and modified to ensure students received the best possible instruction.
Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides says the new curriculum is being updated to “strengthen opportunities that encourage the development of critical thinking skills, enhance the development of skills related to the concept of active citizenship, and reflect the growth of learners through learning progressions that expand from individual experiences to communities and beyond.”
“This collaborative process will play a crucial role in refining the curriculum to ensure it meets the diverse needs of Alberta's students, enhancing their learning experiences and fostering critical thinking and active citizenship skills, focusing on building students’ critical thinking skills and empowers them to be engaged citizens.”
Marilyn Dennis, president of the Alberta School Board Association, said her group “appreciates that government is providing a flexible approach for school boards with optional classroom piloting, and looks forward to ongoing consultation on additional resources and implementation.”
Alberta taxpayers have provided vast financial resources to ensure that students receive high quality education in 2024-25.
Hopefully this new Social Studies curriculum pilot will prove to be money well spent.
Dan Singleton is an editor with the Albertan.
