Alberta NDP education critic Rakhi Pancholi speaks in front of Ross Glen School in Medicine Hat on Sept. 14, 2023. Gwendoline Dirk, twice the party's candidate in Cypress-Medicine Hat, looks on. (Photo Courtesy Ross Lavigne)

By Tanner Smith

Alberta

NDP education critic wants real commitment from UCP for public school system

Sep 14, 2023 | 5:47 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Alberta NDP is giving the provincial government a failing grade on public education.

Party education critic Rakhi Pancholi says what’s happening across the province is a result of four years of the United Conservatives underfunding and undersupporting public education.

“There has to be a real commitment, and this is about political will from the UCP to really demonstrate that they’re going to actually invest in education the way we need to to meet the growing numbers of students across the province,” she said Thursday in front of Ross Glen School.

“But also to meet the needs of local communities like Medicine Hat where perhaps the numbers are going down but there’s still challenges to make sure that those kids that are here, their funding isn’t cut simply because there aren’t as many kids in the classroom They still deserve a quality public education.”

She was in Medicine Hat today to meet with local parents and teachers to hear about the unique circumstances facing parents, students and teachers here.

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She said province-wide there aren’t enough schools, teachers or educational assistants to handle the thousands of new students that enter the system each year.

Pancholi was joined by lifelong educator and education advocate Gwendoline Dirk, who was the party’s candidate in Cypress-Medicine Hat in this spring’s election and last fall’s byelection.

Dirk said the UCP must take public education more seriously.

“We don’t have the problems, same problems with class sizes in the public system for example as they do in Edmonton and Calgary but my concern is if we don’t start taking education seriously across the province then this could very quickly catch up to Medicine Hat public {school division},” she said. “I know that in Prairie Rose and Grasslands {school divisions} they’re really struggling to even find teachers because of the lack of respect and support.”

Both Pancholi and Dirk say reversing Program Unit Funding cuts that funded programs for young students with special needs and expanding the school nutrition program are starting points to improve public education in the province.