CMH News Participates in Virtual Roundtable with Honourable Demetrios Nicolaideson Education Budget 2025

【CMHnews Alberta post】Bingqing, reporter of CMH news.

    On March 4, 2025, CMH News attended a virtual roundtable discussion with Honourable Demetrios Nicolaides, Alberta’s Minister of Education, to discuss Budget 2025 and its impact on the province’s education system. The discussion focused on investments in school infrastructure, funding for specialized learning support, and resources for newcomer students in Alberta.

Key Highlights from the Education Budget 2025

    During the session, Minister Nicolaides presented several budget highlights, emphasizing the government’s commitment to addressing the challenges posed by increasing student enrollment and ensuring access to quality education for all. Some of the notable investments include:

    $1.1 billion over the next three years to accommodate enrollment growth and support the hiring of over 4,000 teachers and staff.

    $1.6 billion for specialized learning support, including a $55 million investment in staffing supports for complex classrooms.

 $487 million for student transportation, ensuring safe and reliable access for over 335,000 students.

 $66 million allocated for curriculum renewal to enhance Alberta’s education system.

 $8.6 billion for school construction and modernization, funding over 100 school projects across the province.

    41 new school projects in Budget 2025, addressing growing classroom demand.

$723 million earmarked for school facility upkeep in 2025/26, alongside $389 million over three years for maintenance and renewal projects.

应对新移民学生的需求

        《天时周刊》记者在会议上向厅长提问，针对阿尔伯塔省近年来大量新移民学生的涌入，许多学校面临过度拥挤和资源短缺的问题，部分新移民学生甚至需要自费参加课后英语课程。对此，Nicolaides 厅长作出了回应：“我们看到越来越多的学生来到阿尔伯塔省，其中很多来自世界各地。这是一个积极的现象，表明越来越多的人将阿尔伯塔省视为他们的家园。但与此同时，我们也意识到这些学生在语言学习方面需要额外的支持。

Addressing the Needs of Newcomer Students

    CMH News raised a crucial question regarding the growing number of new students in Alberta, particularly those from immigrant backgrounds, who often face challenges related to overcrowding and language barriers. Many of these students must pay for after-school English classes due to a lack of sufficient ESL (English as a Second Language) programs in schools.

Minister Nicolaides’ Response:

    “We are seeing a significant increase in the number of students coming to Alberta, particularly from other countries. This is fantastic because it means more people are choosing Alberta as their home. However, we recognize that many of these students require additional support, especially in language acquisition. To address this, we have implemented a few key initiatives:

    Refugee Student Grant: This program provides financial support for refugee students who may also require emotional and psychological assistance. Given the 34% increase in refugee students, we have increased this grant by 2%.

    ESL Grant: This funding is specifically for students needing extra support in learning and developing their English skills. In this budget, we have also increased the ESL grant by 2%, ensuring that students from other countries receive the necessary resources to succeed in Alberta’s education system.

    Our priority is to ensure that every student, regardless of their background, has access to the tools they need to thrive in school.”

Looking Ahead

    The Education Budget 2025 reflects Alberta’s commitment to strengthening its education system, with investments in infrastructure, teacher recruitment, and student support programs. As the province continues to welcome newcomers, ensuring equitable access to education will remain a top priority.

    CMH News will continue to monitor and report on the implementation of these initiatives and their impact on Alberta’s schools and students.