Education minister responds to concerns over changes to remove ideology from classrooms

Alberta's education minister says changes to the Education Act are in response to concerns from parents, but critics say the changes are already addressed throu

Alberta’s education minister is spending a break from the legislative assembly responding to concerns about his Bill 25, An Act to Remove Politics and Ideology from Classrooms and Amend the Education Act.

The proposed legislation would require educators to deliver curriculum materials impartially and schools to play the national anthem once a week. It also prohibits schools from flying flags other than those of Canada and Alberta.

Official Opposition and Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi has accused the United Conservative government of trying to ban the Pride flag and restrict other types of speech.

“These flags represent all Albertans, all Canadians. They represent our common history. They represent our values. Every student should feel a sense of belonging under these banners that represent our collective identity,” Minister Demetrios Nicolaides pushed back during a Wednesday interview with CTV News Edmonton.

Among the refinements he said the government is currently working on is clarity around personal expression, such as personal displays of the Pride flag.

“That’s something that I know my team in the ministry of education is exploring in more detail, and that’s why it’ll take us a little bit more time to develop the regulations so that we get the balance just right without infringing on anyone’s freedom of expression,” Nicolaides said.

If the bill passes, the government will develop a process for requesting exemptions “for other types of flags that can be permitted in schools or in other types of certain settings,” according to the minister.

He reiterated that the purpose of the bill is to ensure schools are fully focused on academic success, citing low basic literacy and numeracy skills in Alberta’s Kindergarten to Grade 3 students.

Students’ ability to speak freely will be protected and encouraged, Nicolaides says.

Educators have expressed concern this creates the potential for misinformation or harmful rhetoric to spread. One University of Alberta professor who specializes in social studies education believes the government should also be careful about inadvertently enforcing false neutrality.

In response, Nicolaides said, “It’s completely possible if a teacher wants to challenge a student’s particular perspective on any subject that they can do so in a manner that’s fair and free from any personal bias.”

Educators have also called the proposed changes unnecessary, given they are governed by professional standards.

“Then, at worst, we’re creating some duplication here of standards that are already in place,” Nicolaides said.

While it remains up for debate on the assembly floor, Nicolaides expects it to be implemented in time for the start of the 2026-27 school year.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Jeremy Thompson