Government roundtable seeks to inject diversity into Alberta’s K-12 curriculum CLARE CLANCY
The K-12 curriculum overhaul will include feedback from various faiths and cultures in order to better reflect Alberta’s current makeup, says Education Minister David Eggen.
“Some parts of our curriculum are over 30 years old, so they’re due for an update,” he told reporters Thursday, speaking at a roundtable of more than 20 community representatives.
“Alberta is a very fast-growing population, it’s the youngest population in Canada and people are coming here from all over the world ... we need to foster understanding every step of the way.”
Participants included groups such as the Sixties Scoop Indigenous Society of Alberta, the Centre for Race and Culture as well as the Muslim Association of Canada.
It’s all part of Alberta’s $64-million curriculum review, scheduled to be completed in 2022.
The United Conservative Party has raised concerns that the process isn’t transparent.
Eggen said the curriculum’s incorporation of diversity correlates to his anti-racism report, released in July. Eggen also announced the province would establish the government’s first anti-racism advisory council and would award $2 million in grants to fight racism.
“We can help to work with children at a young age to foster acceptance and inclusion; they will carry those values with them for the rest of their lives,” he said.
Mona Nashman-Smith, adviser to the Edmonton Islamic Academy board of trustees and principals, said she hopes to contribute her experience with interfaith learning to the discussion.
“As Muslim Canadians we want to stand tall with our brothers and sisters across all faiths and really combat this hatred we’re seeing spreading,” she said.
Gillian Horwitz with the Jewish Federation of Edmonton also participated in the roundtable.
“Things can go absolutely haywire to say the very least when there is ignorance and a lack of understanding of who we are living with, and who our neighbours are,” she said.