COVID-19's Negative Impact on Education in Canada Eases
Alberta’s latest provincial test results indicate that students are narrowing the academic gap caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, with scores in Grade 6, 9, and 12 assessments showing marked improvement. The recent Provincial Achievement Tests and diploma exams reveal significant gains in both science and social studies for Grade 6 students, while Grade 9 students showed progress in social studies, science, and math. Similarly, Grade 12 students achieved higher scores across most subjects.
To sustain this progress, the Alberta government is making targeted investments in education, particularly in specialized learning support. These measures include a new legislative amendment to the Education Act that emphasizes a right to education during emergencies and ensures access to in-person learning. Additionally, $1.5 billion is being allocated to address specialized learning needs in the 2024-25 school year, including $44 million dedicated to staffing for complex classroom environments.
Over the past two years, $10 million has been invested to address a backlog of specialized student assessments, aiding over 3,200 students in areas like occupational therapy, speech language pathology, and psychological services. This has supported better instructional programming and access to necessary resources for students facing various challenges.
Education leaders in Alberta, including Dr. Clint Moroziuk of the College of Alberta School Superintendents, commend the financial support that has allowed local school authorities to support student learning effectively. Enhanced early years assessment frameworks have also been introduced, ensuring that students in Kindergarten through Grade 5 are quickly identified for literacy and numeracy interventions when needed.