Of the many departments that fall under provincial and federal government control, there are always a few that stand out as being paramount to meeting the basic needs of Canadian society.
Education is clearly one of those needs. The price of oil dropping will undoubtedly have grave effects on a variety of government-run programs, but Alberta needs to stay the course, and remain committed to the next generation of doctors, teachers and tradespeople.
Last week, media reports noted that average school fees have nearly tripled in five years. Parents and guardians of young Albertans are paying an average of $240 per student for mandatory charges from school districts – a result of some school boards using fees to meet budgets, reportedly.
Like all statistics, these numbers can be hard to decipher. They could include items such as busing and textbooks, along with other necessary school fees. St. Paul Education Regional Division secretary/treasurer Jean Champagne agrees, saying, “Average fees are difficult to say, in the sense that most are specific to certain services, which vary depending on a student’s timetable.”
Champagne says school fees locally range from as low as $31 to over $200. Classes, such as cosmetology, requiring extra fees are “typically all cost recovery.”
But, if school boards, on average, are resorting to increased school fees to meet budgets, it should make Albertans consider what other tough financial decisions school boards across the province have to make throughout the year.
Locally, SPERD requires approval of any fee increases to be passed by its school councils to ensure parental support of the changes. Champagne adds that there are also measures in place, partially to ensure “No one is denied an education due to financial reasons.”
Albertans may have to tighten their belts as the current economic uncertainty unfolds. However, cutting back on education will hurt the youth that will lead the province in future years, and passing the bill on to parents who may already be struggling, or school boards that already trying to stretch their budgets, isn’t the solution.
