Full Interview (Audio Only):
Radio Transcript:
Anchor:
Well, last week in the Premier's address to the province, Danielle Smith took the unprecedented step of putting billions of dollars into building new schools. Both public school boards, Catholics and the public school board embraced it, celebrated the announcement. However, Danielle Smith did mention in this announcement that some money would go into building private schools. And that's when the celebrations dampened a bit. Here's Julie Kusiek from the public school board here in Edmonton.
Kusiek:
You know, unfortunately, that's the prerogative of this government. It was in the minister's mandate letter from the Premier. So I think, you know, questions that I have and that I would encourage anybody else who has concerns is talk to, you know, MLA's on both sides of the aisle. I know where they sit on this. And, you know…
Anchor:
Yeah, and there's another group questioning this idea of putting money into building the schools. Some money, provincial money goes into supporting those schools and those kids that go to private schools, but not building the actual infrastructure. Medeana Moussa is the executive director of Support Our Students, and she joins us on the line. Good morning.
Moussa:
Good morning.
Anchor:
So what is your problem with provincial money, public money, going into building public or private schools?
Moussa:
Well, you know, in truth, we have an issue with any public money following students into private education. There really is just a limited amount of resources, and these resources, public resources, should not be diverted to private schools. They serve a select few over public schools who serve everyone. We consider it unethical and also very inefficient.
Anchor:
Let's talk about private schools. I have to admit, there's a gap in my knowledge about private schools. It's not something we've ever entertained in our family. So I don't know how many private schools are in Alberta.
Where are they, and how are they different? They obviously charge tuition. How much does that cost? Can you just give us an overview of what a private school looks like here in Alberta?
Moussa:
Sure. Like independent schools, most of them are concentrated in urban centers. So if you're a rural community, by and large, you will not have access to a private institution. They are not required to be managed by publicly elected officials. If they receive public funds, they do have to follow the Alberta curriculum. And currently they receive any accredited independent schools receive 70% of per student funding. So in Alberta, students receive just under $10,000, which is the least in all of Canada for per student funding. So a private school will receive 70% of that funding for each student that is enrolled in their program. That is the highest in the country for private funding already going, or public funding already going to these private schools. Not everybody will be accepted to a private school. There's often exams, entrance exams and applications, costly applications that need to be filled out. And there are high tuition, but it ranges. There is a very broad range of tuition across the province that private schools charge.
Anchor:
So as you mentioned here in the province, students in private schools receive 70% of what students in public schools get. Is it that far of a leap for the province to start building some of those schools?
Moussa:
Well, it is actually. You know, when you think about the needs that we're having right now in our province and the massive growth, those private schools are not the ones that are shouldering the burden of new Calgarians coming to our province and needing the services of education for their children. So it doesn't solve the problem that is upon us. And this government has not said that they're going to be increasing funding. So the pie is ostensibly staying the same. And public schools are about to get a smaller sliver of that pie while still doing the bulk of the work. So what this government is really saying is we're going to take from the many to give to the few. And what happens over time is an eroded public education system. So I've heard the premier say that they would like to see parity between the public dollars that private schools are getting with public schools. And that is essentially code for something that we would call a voucher system, which is happening in Arizona right now. And the proof of what's going on is really bad, that's costing the government way more than the system that we have right now in Canada. So we think this is a really big, big problem and a huge shift in government policy.
Anchor: Medeana, I am running out of time, but I do have a couple of questions to ask. Hopefully we can fit it in with the time that we have left. But do you not think that this would take any pressure off of public schools? Or it's just that it's not that significant?
Moussa:
Private schools just don't serve enough of the public. So there's not enough students. Over 90% of Alberta kids go to public schools. So we need those funds going to public schools who serve the majority of Alberta.
Anchor:
Are they doing it in any other province? Are they building private schools in any other province in this country?
Moussa:
No, not with public funds. Not to this level that's being suggested. So it's like giving money to a private company without oversight, without accountability, without the same level of transparency that we have in our public school boards. And our public school boards have been asking for new schools for over 10 years. So there is a desperate need and they have been shortchanged. And this is going to just exacerbate the problem by diverting those much needed dollars to the private sector.
Anchor:
What are you doing about it? Are you calling MLAs? Are you organizing anything? Are you trying to get ah, guess, a face-to-face meeting with perhaps the education minister?
Moussa:
Well, I think number one is we're trying to create education amongst Albertans so that they understand how taking money away from public schools and giving it to private is going to create a problem.
And that's number one. And yes, we absolutely encourage everybody to get in touch with their MLAs, get in touch with their trustees. Trustees are supposed to be standing up for public education. And so we want to hear from our trustees on this. And I think, all of us Albertans, we need to be very clear-eyed about what this proposal is. And it is about bolstering private education at the expense of public education.
Anchor:
Thanks for joining us, Medeana. I really appreciate your time.
Moussa:
Thank you so much.
/End
Anchor:
Well, last week in the Premier's address to the province, Danielle Smith took the unprecedented step of putting billions of dollars into building new schools. Both public school boards, Catholics and the public school board embraced it, celebrated the announcement. However, Danielle Smith did mention in this announcement that some money would go into building private schools. And that's when the celebrations dampened a bit. Here's Julie Kusiek from the public school board here in Edmonton.
Kusiek:
You know, unfortunately, that's the prerogative of this government. It was in the minister's mandate letter from the Premier. So I think, you know, questions that I have and that I would encourage anybody else who has concerns is talk to, you know, MLA's on both sides of the aisle. I know where they sit on this. And, you know…
Anchor:
Yeah, and there's another group questioning this idea of putting money into building the schools. Some money, provincial money goes into supporting those schools and those kids that go to private schools, but not building the actual infrastructure. Medeana Moussa is the executive director of Support Our Students, and she joins us on the line. Good morning.
Moussa:
Good morning.
Anchor:
So what is your problem with provincial money, public money, going into building public or private schools?
Moussa:
Well, you know, in truth, we have an issue with any public money following students into private education. There really is just a limited amount of resources, and these resources, public resources, should not be diverted to private schools. They serve a select few over public schools who serve everyone. We consider it unethical and also very inefficient.
Anchor:
Let's talk about private schools. I have to admit, there's a gap in my knowledge about private schools. It's not something we've ever entertained in our family. So I don't know how many private schools are in Alberta.
Where are they, and how are they different? They obviously charge tuition. How much does that cost? Can you just give us an overview of what a private school looks like here in Alberta?
Moussa:
Sure. Like independent schools, most of them are concentrated in urban centers. So if you're a rural community, by and large, you will not have access to a private institution. They are not required to be managed by publicly elected officials. If they receive public funds, they do have to follow the Alberta curriculum. And currently they receive any accredited independent schools receive 70% of per student funding. So in Alberta, students receive just under $10,000, which is the least in all of Canada for per student funding. So a private school will receive 70% of that funding for each student that is enrolled in their program. That is the highest in the country for private funding already going, or public funding already going to these private schools. Not everybody will be accepted to a private school. There's often exams, entrance exams and applications, costly applications that need to be filled out. And there are high tuition, but it ranges. There is a very broad range of tuition across the province that private schools charge.
Anchor:
So as you mentioned here in the province, students in private schools receive 70% of what students in public schools get. Is it that far of a leap for the province to start building some of those schools?
Moussa:
Well, it is actually. You know, when you think about the needs that we're having right now in our province and the massive growth, those private schools are not the ones that are shouldering the burden of new Calgarians coming to our province and needing the services of education for their children. So it doesn't solve the problem that is upon us. And this government has not said that they're going to be increasing funding. So the pie is ostensibly staying the same. And public schools are about to get a smaller sliver of that pie while still doing the bulk of the work. So what this government is really saying is we're going to take from the many to give to the few. And what happens over time is an eroded public education system. So I've heard the premier say that they would like to see parity between the public dollars that private schools are getting with public schools. And that is essentially code for something that we would call a voucher system, which is happening in Arizona right now. And the proof of what's going on is really bad, that's costing the government way more than the system that we have right now in Canada. So we think this is a really big, big problem and a huge shift in government policy.
Anchor: Medeana, I am running out of time, but I do have a couple of questions to ask. Hopefully we can fit it in with the time that we have left. But do you not think that this would take any pressure off of public schools? Or it's just that it's not that significant?
Moussa:
Private schools just don't serve enough of the public. So there's not enough students. Over 90% of Alberta kids go to public schools. So we need those funds going to public schools who serve the majority of Alberta.
Anchor:
Are they doing it in any other province? Are they building private schools in any other province in this country?
Moussa:
No, not with public funds. Not to this level that's being suggested. So it's like giving money to a private company without oversight, without accountability, without the same level of transparency that we have in our public school boards. And our public school boards have been asking for new schools for over 10 years. So there is a desperate need and they have been shortchanged. And this is going to just exacerbate the problem by diverting those much needed dollars to the private sector.
Anchor:
What are you doing about it? Are you calling MLAs? Are you organizing anything? Are you trying to get ah, guess, a face-to-face meeting with perhaps the education minister?
Moussa:
Well, I think number one is we're trying to create education amongst Albertans so that they understand how taking money away from public schools and giving it to private is going to create a problem.
And that's number one. And yes, we absolutely encourage everybody to get in touch with their MLAs, get in touch with their trustees. Trustees are supposed to be standing up for public education. And so we want to hear from our trustees on this. And I think, all of us Albertans, we need to be very clear-eyed about what this proposal is. And it is about bolstering private education at the expense of public education.
Anchor:
Thanks for joining us, Medeana. I really appreciate your time.
Moussa:
Thank you so much.
/End