Alberta subsidizes private education at the highest rate (70%) in the country.
What's wrong with this picture:
According to Statistics Canada, Alberta spends the LEAST per student on public education.
Meanwhile, Alberta also spends the MOST on subsidizing private education.
According to Statistics Canada, Alberta spends the LEAST per student on public education.
Meanwhile, Alberta also spends the MOST on subsidizing private education.
At 70% of the per-student instructional grant, Alberta is paying the most in public funds to prop up private education.
Many provinces such as Ontario, don't public fund private education at all.
Affluent Alberta private schools have successfully lobbied consecutive governments to gradually siphon more public resources out of the public system into private hands.
Private schools in Alberta also can charge any amount of tuition they wish (tuition rates are not regulated).
In 2021, the public spend about $314 million on accredited private schools (and ECS operators). Of this, the 18 most affluent private schools received $43 million in public support.*
The average private school tuition is $8,080 per student per year.
Nineteen private schools in Alberta charge more than $12,000 per year.
This inequitable practice needs to stop.
The Alberta public is paying for a select few to receive extra private advantages at the expense of the majority of students in the public education system.
Many provinces such as Ontario, don't public fund private education at all.
Affluent Alberta private schools have successfully lobbied consecutive governments to gradually siphon more public resources out of the public system into private hands.
Private schools in Alberta also can charge any amount of tuition they wish (tuition rates are not regulated).
In 2021, the public spend about $314 million on accredited private schools (and ECS operators). Of this, the 18 most affluent private schools received $43 million in public support.*
The average private school tuition is $8,080 per student per year.
Nineteen private schools in Alberta charge more than $12,000 per year.
This inequitable practice needs to stop.
The Alberta public is paying for a select few to receive extra private advantages at the expense of the majority of students in the public education system.
* Source: Riep, C. Private Schools Funding in Alberta: Scaling-up Privatization (2022). Commissioned by Public School Boards' Association of Alberta: https://public-schools.ab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Private-Schools-Funding-in-Alberta.pdf