The Alberta Government has announced funding to support Ukrainian refugee students. (File photo of Alberta Legislature building in Edmonton: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Alberta Government commits $12 million to support Ukrainian refugee students

Nov 14, 2022 | 2:13 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Government of Alberta has announced funding aimed at supporting Ukrainian students who are adjusting to their new lives in the province.

Premier Danielle Smith says $12.3 million will be spent on language, social, and educational supports for Ukrainian refugees in Alberta schools.

Additional funding will be provided in March 2023 to ensure students who arrive midway through the school year are also supported.

“Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Albertans have stepped up to support Albertans of Ukrainian descent and Ukrainian evacuees,” says Smith. “This new funding will help each new student from Ukraine receive the supports they need to be successful in their studies.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Ukrainian Refugee Resettlement Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk was pleased to see this funding allocation.

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“I am happy that Ukrainian students are getting the support they need to succeed in Alberta classrooms. I look forward to continuing my work in identifying ideas on how our government can continue to assist Ukrainian evacuees,’ says Armstrong-Homeniuk.

Education Minister Adriana LaGrange says school officials have registered 2,200 students as Ukrainian evacuees as of the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, attending 612 schools in 58 districts.

Approximately 75% of Ukrainian refugee students are enrolled in schools in Calgary and Edmonton.

LNN has reached out to the Lethbridge School Division and Holy Spirit Catholic School Division to see how many Ukrainian refugee students there are locally.

As of November 6, 2022, the federal government has admitted approximately 115,000 Ukrainian refugees to Canada.

READ MORE: Escape from Ukraine: Alberta bound

READ MORE: Lethbridge City Councillor named to Premier’s Advisory Task Force on Ukraine

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