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Just 17 per cent of Albertans agree that the recently released draft K–6 curriculum will provide students with the knowledge and skills they will need for success, according to a new Environics poll conducted for the Alberta Teachers’ Association. That’s compared with 53 per cent who disagree, including 34 per cent who strongly disagree, that the drafts will fulfill the government’s stated objective.
“Parents and the public have a clear understanding that this draft curriculum is not appropriate for use with students. That is why we are calling for the government to halt implementation and conduct a full, independent review.”
—ATA president Jason Schilling
The poll also shows that the unpopular curriculum has led to record low levels of approval for how the government is handling K–12 education. In all, 60 per cent of Albertans disapprove of the government’s performance on schooling, including 38 per cent who strongly disapprove. Just 34 per cent approve—which is the lowest approval rating in the past decade.
“Albertans are saying to us that the curriculum is poorly done, and it is inappropriate for students. They also recognize that the problem was largely created because teachers were left out of the planning.
I know government officials will say 100 teachers were included last fall, but until they produce an unfiltered report on those sessions and release the teachers from their gag order, I have no reason to believe that those teachers were meaningfully engaged or that their feedback was even used.”
—ATA president Jason Schilling
Environics Research surveyed 900 adult Albertans by telephone between April 19 and May 1, 2021. The sample results in a margin of error of ±3.3 per cent, 19 times out of 20. A report on the results is attached to this release.
The Alberta Teachers’ Association, as the professional organization of teachers, promotes and advances public education, safeguards standards of professional practice and serves as the advocate for its 46,000 members.
