Eggen straightens out curriculum update plans

As the province works to update Alberta’s education curriculum, some are concerned about who exactly is making changes.

David Eggen, Minister of Education, told 630 CHED’s Ryan Jespersen, a lot of the curriculum is over 30 years old and it is time for an update.

Eggen added they won’t be doing a complete overhaul, they’re just getting rid of outdated items and keeping what still works.

“We have the biggest wide-open set of interactions with the public ever,” explained Eggen. “I just put out, a couple of weeks ago, the last curriculum report, we’ve had more than 12,000 people put input on it, 32,000 last time,” Eggen said. “We have had thousands of interactions with any group from junior achievement, universities, oil sands companies, teachers and parents.

LISTEN: Education minister David Eggen speaks with 630 CHED’s Ryan Jespersen about changes coming to Alberta’s curriculum

Eggen told the Ryan Jespersen Show that PC leader Jason Kenney thinks the update is going to bring left-ideologies into the education and will be biased but those statements are completely false.

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“I think that Mr. Kenney is looking for ways to undermine our public education system and he started by attacking the curriculum.”

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Eggen thinks the updated curriculum will be built to let students see the past, the present and how to move forward.

“We have to make sure our kids are critical thinkers and that they are processing information and they also must have the foundation of where we’ve come from as Albertans, Canadians and human beings so that we can have a clear path of where were going in the future,” remarked Eggen.

Eggen explained much of the curriculum is around 30 years old and needs an update.

“I believe that by using vigorous application of best practices from around the world and making sure we’re in close communication with post-secondary institutions and what they need, industry and what they need,” explained Eggen. “We can make improvements.”

Eggen ended the interview by explaining the updated curriculum will be based on practices of what is reflective in our society and he will measure success by better attendance, graduation rates and a student’s understanding of the information.