Welcome back, students, teachers, and support staff, to an exciting new school year. I hope your summer was filled with rest, reflection, and rejuvenation, and that you are ready to begin a productive year of learning.
Alberta’s population is booming and causing unprecedented growth in our education system, adding a historic number of new students across the province for the 2024-25 school year. Alberta’s government recognizes and sympathizes with the challenges school authorities face with increasing enrolment, rising operational costs, and inflation. That is why it is investing $215 million to help alleviate these pressures, beginning in the 2024-25 school year. Through this investment, the Alberta government is creating up to 2,500 new spaces for students by building and installing up to 100 new modular classrooms.
50 modular classrooms will be relocated to rapidly growing communities in the Calgary Metropolitan Region and Edmonton, supporting up to 1,250 students. The Calgary Board of Education will receive up to 31 new modular classrooms, with up to 14 relocated, while the Calgary Catholic School Division will get up to 14 new modular classrooms, with up to six relocated.
School authorities can use this additional funding to hire more teachers and support staff, helping to manage class sizes and address rising costs without affecting student learning.
Moody’s Ratings upgraded Alberta’s credit rating outlook to positive from stable and confirmed the Aa2 standing, recognizing the province’s commitment to balancing the budget, controlling spending, and paying down debt.
This is the fourth credit upgrade for the Government of Alberta in the past year and the fifth in 18 months. This upgrade follows Fitch’s upgrade in June, reaffirming Alberta as Canada’s economic engine. Meanwhile, the Alberta government has invested record amounts in healthcare and education, continues to pay debts, and saves for the future.
MLA – Calgary North Muhammad Yaseen proudly serves the following Communities: Carrington, Evanston, Hidden Valley, Panorama Hills