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Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
TUI members vote to accept senior cycle redevelopment measures
The union's executive committee had recommended acceptance as it believed the measures were the best that could be achieved through negotiations. The TUI said in a statement that it made it clear 'at all times' that the ballot was on the implementation measures and not the curriculum itself, which the Education Minister has the power to prescribe under the Education Act 'and which other stakeholders have no veto over'. TUI president David Waters said it is clear that members 'still have a range of concerns around various issues related to the redevelopment process, and we will be insisting that the Department honours the commitments set out in the negotiated document'. "We have specific concerns about the system capacity for the roll-out of the science subjects in schools that have been chronically under-resourced, the potential risks to assessment posed by AI and the additional resourcing required to ensure that no students, particularly those in DEIS settings, are put at a disadvantage by any of the changes. It is now imperative that these and any other arising issues are urgently addressed.' The union had called for a delay in the implementation of the revised Trance 2 subjects of English and accounting ahead of recent negotiations that led to the publication of the Senior Cycle Implementation Measures document. It stated that the Department will 'continue to engage regularly with the NCCA on the delivery timelines' of Tranche 2-5 subjects and 'where considered appropriate and necessary for development and/or implementation reasons, the implementation of individual subjects may be delayed from the current published schedule.' The union added that it 'once again drew attention to Ireland's shamefully low level of investment in education, which sees us spend a lower percentage of national wealth on education than any other listed OECD country'. "The education budget for 2026 will need to increase significantly to properly facilitate such significant change.'
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
TUI members accept senior cycle redevelopment measures
Members of the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) have voted by a margin of 73% to 27% to accept negotiated implementation measures for senior cycle redevelopment. The union's executive committee had recommended acceptance, stating that it believed the measures were the best that could be achieved through negotiation. Announcing the outcome, the union said the ballot was on the acceptability of the implementation measures and not the actual curriculum, "which the Minister has the power to prescribe under the Education Act and which other stakeholders have no veto over". TUI President David Waters said, notwithstanding the vote, members continued to have concerns. '"We have specific concerns about the system capacity for the roll-out of the science subjects in schools that have been chronically under-resourced, the potential risks to assessment posed by AI and the additional resourcing required to ensure that no students, particularly those in DEIS settings, are put at a disadvantage by any of the changes. "It is now imperative that these and any other arising issues are urgently addressed", Mr Waters said.
Edmonton Journal
5 days ago
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
How Edmonton Public Schools is grappling with undocumented children
Article content 'There are children in this province, in this city, who are being prevented from attending school,' she said. Rutherford emphasized the emotional toll this takes on children, who 'are falling behind academically and suffering as they struggle to understand why they aren't allowed to exist and participate as equals alongside their peers.' How Alberta compares to other provinces? Advocates and trustees have pointed to legislative models in Ontario and British Columbia as examples of how Alberta could expand access to public education for undocumented children. In Ontario, the Education Act explicitly states that a student must be admitted to school even if the child or their parents are in Canada unlawfully. Provincial guidance also indicates that such students generally qualify for government funding. In British Columbia, the School Act requires boards to provide free education to all resident students, with 'ordinary residence' determined by factors like housing, employment, tax filings, or a provincial driver's licence. Students who meet these conditions are eligible for public education and funding, regardless of immigration status.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Edmonton public school board wants Alberta to guarantee undocumented children a right to attend school
The Alberta government should change education law to ensure undocumented children have access to school in the province, Edmonton public school trustees say. Following pleas from advocates who say children are being denied an education in Edmonton, the board voted to ask Alberta's education minister to change the legal definition of a resident student in the province. "It doesn't matter what decisions their parents have made," Trustee Jan Sawyer said at a board meeting on Tuesday. "We have to do everything we can to see those kids are in school." Whitney Haynes, executive director of the Alberta Workers Association for Research and Education, advocates for precarious workers and undocumented families in the province. Hayne said a couple of years ago, a family approached her, saying their children had been removed from school after their immigration status changed. She said she now knows of nine children in Edmonton who were either refused entry to school or told to leave school because of their immigration status. Each case is different, she said. A family may have come to Canada under a student visa, claiming refugee status or as temporary foreign workers. If their claim to stay is denied, the family is left in limbo while they're appealing to federal agencies, which can take a long time, she said. Many are scared to return to their home country for fear of violence or poverty, she said. Haynes said education is a human right. She thinks Alberta's Education Act is discriminatory because it has a blind spot for undocumented children living in the province. At a school board meeting last month, families and advocates urged the school board to keep undocumented children learning. They pointed to other Canadian school boards, which have created sanctuary policies that pledge not to discriminate against students based on their immigration status, and resist sharing information with immigration authorities. Student Areana Capata, 13, told trustees on April 15 she has three siblings who haven't been able to attend school for two years, and she worries that she is next. Her siblings are denied the simple joys of making friends and learning, and Capata worries whether they will ever catch up with their learning. "We're not asking for special treatment," she said. "We're just asking for a chance." An administrative report to the school board says Ontario's Education Act requires schools to admit children, even if the child or their parent is illegally in Canada. B.C. law says students are eligible for school enrolment and public funding if they or their guardian owns or leases property, are employed, have a driver's licence or pay taxes. Administrators note that Alberta's law and school funding policies lack these provisions. Alberta's Education Act says schools can consider enrolling a non-resident student if there is space in a school, "resources" to accommodate them, and all resident students have been accommodated first. Boards also have the right to charge non-resident students tuition fees. Non-resident students are ineligible for provincial funding. Haynes said the school board could also choose to enrol undocumented students as "non-resident students" and charge a nominal fee for their attendance. Edmonton public currently charges international students $13,000 a year to attend one of its schools. Trustees want other boards to join advocacy Edmonton public trustees unanimously agreed on Tuesday to ask Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides to propose Education Act amendments that allow school divisions to enrol undocumented students, and for the provincial government to fund their education. They also agreed to ask other school boards and organizations like the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) to join their advocacy efforts. In a statement on Tuesday, Edmonton Catholic Schools spokesperson Christine Meadows said access to education for undocumented students is a "complex and sensitive issue." She said the board will welcome students to the fullest extent allowed by provincial law. Meadows did not answer a question about whether that board has taken any steps to advocate for changes. An ASBA spokesperson said the organization, which has 65 member school boards in Alberta and Yellowknife, hasn't yet taken a position on undocumented students and doesn't know how many boards consider the issue a priority. In a statement sent Tuesday, Minister Nicolaides said funding schooling for children from outside Canada aims to balance fiscal responsibility and compassion. "Alberta's criteria for funding education for newcomers is intended to be open and generous, and most children are eligible for a funded education in the province," his statement said. He said the only instance a child wouldn't have funded education is when they arrive in Alberta as a tourist or visitor. Edmonton public school board chair Julie Kusiek said his response doesn't account for undocumented children. "That's the group of children that we want to advocate for at a provincial level to see the changes required so that they can receive the same kind of education as their peer down the street," she said.
Toronto Sun
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Alberta changing rules to ensure 'age appropriate' books in schools
Published May 26, 2025 • Last updated 7 minutes ago • 1 minute read Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides speaks to the media after introducing legislation to update the Education Act, at the Alberta Legislature, in Edmonton Tuesday April 8, 2025. Photo by David Bloom / Postmedia Network EDMONTON — Alberta is bringing in new rules this fall to ensure that only what it calls 'age appropriate' books are available in school libraries. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides says the move was spurred by four graphic coming-of-age novels depicting sexual, LGBTQ+ content found to be in circulation in public schools in Edmonton and Calgary. Nicolaides says he was extremely concerned to learn such novels were available to students and says Albertans will be consulted before action is taken. The government is launching an online survey for feedback as it prepares the new provincewide standards, with the aim of the new rules being in place by September. The province says school boards currently have varying standards when choosing library material, leading to concerns about whether effective safeguards are in place. The rules will apply to public, separate, francophone, charter and independent schools, but not to public libraries. More coming. Football Ontario Columnists Football Celebrity
