Education in Alberta will promote the acquisition of skills and the pursuit of knowledge with wisdom, while valuing equality of opportunity, parental responsibility, personal responsibility and excellence, and respect for difference and the inherent dignity of each individual. Students will understand the rights and benefits of democratic citizenship and their personal and community responsibilities. Students will explore life opportunities that develop their unique talents and potential, provide a sense of purpose and belonging, and affirm the dignity of work. They will become life-long learners, who will cultivate the virtues of wisdom, courage, self-control, justice, charity, and hope.
Vision for student learning
Students will gain the knowledge and skills to form the foundations for successful and fulfilling lives, and make meaningful contributions to their communities and the world.
Foundations for learning
Literacy and numeracy are the foundational building blocks of learning. They shall be pervasive across all subjects and grades and specifically taught using age-appropriate, complete texts of high quality in language classes and standard algorithms in mathematics. These foundations establish core knowledge, shared civic and cultural literacy, and skills that enable students to solve problems, think critically as they become active and informed citizens leading healthy lives of meaning.
Outcomes for learning
Knowledge development
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 development of literacy and numeracy will be reinforced, enriched, and supplemented by the study of Alberta, Canadian, and world history, geography, mathematics, science, technology, philosophy, literature, languages, mental and physical wellness, and the arts, which shall be taught with specific factual content, quality original texts and sources where applicable, and measurable outcomes. Students will demonstrate competence in managing personal finance and applying their critical thinking to engaging with various media.
Students will integrate the broad knowledge base of these subjects to learn to think for themselves, solve problems creatively, collaborate, and communicate effectively. Students will be encouraged to approach the world with intellectual curiosity and humility, understanding our inherited traditions, engaging new ideas and diverse viewpoints, questioning assumptions with reason, evaluating sources of information with discernment, and applying their learning in a variety of life and work situations.
Character development
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. They will demonstrate resilience and good judgement in a rapidly-changing world, building positive relationships and taking responsibility for their personal health and well-being. Students will demonstrate a commitment to the common good by exercising compassion, empathy, and support for each other in our diverse society.
Community engagement
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the needs, beliefs, and expectations of diverse communities, and identify connections that transcend difference. They will recognize the impact of their actions and demonstrate an understanding of our rights and freedoms, which are secured by Canadian law and reflect our shared history and traditions, as well as the social and organizational skills required for civic participation. Students will demonstrate an understanding of economic development and entrepreneurship, and will recognize the responsibility we share for environmental stewardship and sustainability.
Students will demonstrate respect for others and an understanding of our political institutions as they prepare to participate knowledgably and responsibly in our parliamentary democracy and our constitutional Monarchy. They will understand Canadian and world history, our debt to previous generations, and our obligations to future generations. All students will see themselves, their families, and their communities in the curriculum, with space in the curriculum for the study of local traditions, history, and geography, including Alberta’s Francophone history. Students will develop an understanding of and respect for the histories, contributions, and perspectives of Indigenous peoples in Alberta and Canada, including Treaty Rights and the importance of reconciliation.
Conclusion
Parents deserve the best from those who help them educate their children. Students will be coached to develop intellectual ability and practical skills by caring and knowledgeable teachers. They will inherit a rich, interconnected knowledge base and be practiced in free, lively, and respectful dialogue with varied viewpoints.