Alberta Education: Two-Thirds Say System Is Failing

ALBERTA — The province's education system is on life support, according to most Albertans, but there's no agreement on the cure.

A new poll from the Angus Reid Institute, released today in partnership with Cardus, finds 63% of Albertans believe the public education system is not "strong and healthy." The numbers land as the public system continues to simmer from the contentious teachers' strike last fall.

The Diversity Debate

Albertans view the diversity of school options—charter, independent, home education, alternative language and religious programs—more as strength (41%) than weakness (27%). Yet they're divided on whether government should expand opportunities outside the public realm: 39% yes, 46% no.

There's stronger consensus on diversifying options within the public banner: 77% support it.

The Funding Friction

Parents of school-aged children hold contradictory views on independent school funding. Two-thirds (64%) believe independent schools should receive less funding (15%) or none at all (49%). Another 65% say these schools siphon resources from public education.

But context shifts opinion. When asked about a child with special needs, 66% of parents support government funding for an independent school if parents decide it best suits their child's education.

Quality: Unclear Picture

Parents rate public charter schools favorably: 43% high quality versus 20% low quality. Non-religious independent schools earn a net +11 positive rating.

Yet knowledge gaps are wide. Parents admit they don't know enough to assess quality across multiple options: public alternative schools (43% unsure), public charter schools (37%), religious independent schools (40%), and non-religious independent schools (42%).

The findings arrive as Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides continues to champion parental choice, while the Alberta Teachers' Association still carries battle scars from last fall's fight over class size, complexity, and salaries.

The province allocated approximately $8.8 billion to education in its 2025-26 budget, a modest increase focused on enrolment growth and classroom complexity. The per-student funding model for eligible independent schools remains a flashpoint.