Families Seek Alternatives as Schools Remain Closed in Alberta

Families in Alberta are urgently searching for educational alternatives as schools are expected to remain closed for several days due to ongoing negotiations between the provincial government and the teachers’ association. With around 700,000 public and separate school students affected, many parents are turning to temporary educational camps to fill the gap.

Organizations such as Telus Spark are stepping in to offer camps that resemble traditional schooling. Jen Duffy, the school science connections manager at Telus Spark, highlighted that their programs are designed to align with the students’ science curriculum. “These SparkEd Camps are curricular-connected to their science curriculum. So, they are designed to enhance what they would be learning in the classroom,” Duffy explained.

Parents face a challenging task as they navigate options for their children. Kera Redlack, who enrolled her daughter Heidi in a Telus Spark camp, remarked on the difficulty of finding available programs. “It’s a bit of an all-over-the-city tour as we find camps that work and that are available and that still have space,” she noted. While many camps cater to younger children, Telus Spark provides engaging options for kids up to the age of 12.

The camps not only serve as a substitute for regular school but also offer opportunities for social interaction. Eleven-year-old Heidi shared her enthusiasm, stating, “I like how we can do experiments with the things that we learn.” Despite the excitement, these educational alternatives come with added costs and require additional time from families. Redlack expressed her support for teachers, emphasizing the importance of meaningful education, while acknowledging the disruption the situation has caused: “It’s certainly a disruption to our lives.”

As negotiations between the province and the teachers’ association are set to resume on March 12, 2024, the outcome remains uncertain. If an agreement is reached, teachers will require time to review and vote on it, a process that historically has taken approximately five days. Duffy expressed her hope for a resolution that benefits students: “I want a good resolution for our students here in Alberta.”

Children affected by the closure are also voicing their concerns. Jordan, an 11-year-old student, expressed the challenges of learning at home, stating, “I just hope it ends soon because it is much harder to learn at home than it is at school.” In contrast, Heidi expressed a desire for smaller class sizes, recalling her experience with 32 students in her class last year, which she found overwhelming.

The stakes remain high, as the provincial government could mandate teachers back to work if a resolution is not reached. Such a move would likely result in the cancellation of extracurricular activities, including field trips. Duffy warned about the potential impact on educators, stating, “If teachers are mandated back to work, then we would struggle to have work for our educators.”

As families navigate this period of uncertainty, the focus remains on finding suitable educational options while hoping for a swift resolution to the ongoing negotiations.