Peter Shokeir | [email protected]
Grande Yellowhead Public School Division (GYPSD) is not piloting either a portion or the complete draft curriculum in any of its K-6 schools, according to an April 22 Facebook post.
At the April 21 public board meeting, the GYPSD board of trustees moved to allow the central office curriculum-working group, comprising teachers and central staff, to share feedback regarding their review of the draft curriculum with the Minister of Education.
鈥淭he board felt they could still provide Alberta Education with meaningful and constructive feedback through the curriculum-working group rather than through schools,鈥� the district said in a news release.
During the meeting, Supt. Carolyn Lewis and trustees shared feedback received from parents, teachers and community members who had concerns about the draft.
鈥淗owever, the trustees voiced their belief that providing feedback was too important of an opportunity to miss, given the many years the province has been without an updated curriculum: thus, the decision to task the division鈥檚 curriculum-working group to provide feedback to Alberta Education,鈥� the district stated.
鈥淭his approach aligns with how many school jurisdictions in the province are also providing input.鈥�
According to an Alberta Teachers鈥� Association survey, 90 per cent of elementary school teachers are uncomfortable teaching the new curriculum.
The feedback also showed that teachers believe the new curriculum is both age and developmentally inappropriate.
The development and approval of the provincial curriculum are under the authority of the Alberta government.
Members of the public can review the draft curriculum and provide feedback to the Ministry of Education until Spring 2022
