Lethbridge School Division. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge School Division: New curriculum “does not support quality learning”

Apr 8, 2021 | 2:58 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Lethbridge School Division (LSD) will not be participating in the pilot of the province’s new draft K-6 curriculum.

Trustees and administration have reviewed the documents released by the provincial government on March 29.

READ MORE: Alberta plan for new K-6 school curriculum focuses on basics, practical skills

A statement from LSD says, “the draft curriculum does not support quality learning that will develop innovative thinkers or responsible citizens with inclusive mindsets.”

While officials recognize the benefits of taking part in pilots and being able to provide feedback, but they add that the draft curriculum, as currently presented, “includes significant structural and content changes that alter how education is delivered.”

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The local school board is not alone in this thinking.

LNN reported this week that 91 per cent of Alberta teachers, in a new survey from the Alberta Teachers Association, were unhappy with the draft curriculum.

READ MORE: 91% of Alberta teachers are unhappy with new proposed K-6 curriculum

“The Board of Trustees does not believe it would be ethical or responsible to have our teachers and students navigate the proposed draft curriculum that has an abundance of content that is not age-appropriate, fails to adequately address diversity, fails to further contemporary learning competencies, and lacks coherence and integration of ideas,” says Board Chair Christine Light.

“We are committed to continuing to work with Alberta Education in whatever capacity we can to bring about change to the current draft document, as we believe it is not currently in a form we can support or pilot.”

The school board is calling for the province to pause the pilot process, reflect on the feedback being given by residents and school officials, and “engage in a process that is authentic, transparent, and well-informed.”

Members of the Lethbridge School Division hope to provide further updates next week.