Province’s Education Act given passing grade
Posted Feb 14, 2012 10:56 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Alberta’s education minister has tabled new rules for schools he says will ensure teachers have the power to go after and punish bullies inside and outside the classroom.
Thomas Lukaszuk says the bill specifically defines bullying and gives schools the power to enforce discipline through expulsions.
Lukaszuk says there will be a province-wide code of conduct so that students know what is unacceptable in one jurisdiction won’t be acceptable in another.
President of the Public School Boards Association, Patty Dittrick tells 660News their members have wanted an Education Act since 2009, to replace the 1988 School Act.
She says the changes are very positive. “It goes from a prescriptive style of legislation into a very enabling style of legislation in the new Education Act,” she says.
The bill also hikes the minimum drop-out age to 17 from 16.
It also promises to fund students up to age 21 to complete their high school diplomas; the previous limit was age 19.
The bill comes after five years of public consultation and will be the new framework document governing kindergarten and grade school education.
