Amanda Chapman, Alberta New Democrat Shadow Minister for Education, issued the following statement in response to the UCP’s roundtable on books in schools
“Decisions about what’s appropriate for students to read should be made by educators and library professionals, not politicians.
“This government continues to fund education at the lowest level in the country, leaving schools overcrowded and understaffed. In many cases, there aren’t even librarians available to make these decisions, let alone enough teachers or educational assistants to support our kids.
“Instead of addressing the urgent issues in our classrooms—like overcrowding, staffing shortages, and Alberta’s position as the lowest funder of education per student in the country—the Minister of Education is focused on staging political distractions.
“What’s more troubling is the pattern we’re seeing from this government: decisions made behind closed doors, performative consultations that offer no real clarity, and a consistent refusal to be upfront with Albertans about what they’ve heard and how policies will be rolled out.
“Albertans deserve a government that is transparent, ethical, and competent—one that trusts experts to do their jobs and gives them the resources to do them well.”