Alberta’s Private-School Funding Sparks Debate as Teachers’ Strike Escalates

Thousands take part in a rally in support of teachers and public education outside the Alberta legislature in Edmonton on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025.                        

Alberta’s historic province-wide teachers’ strike has reignited a long-simmering debate over the government’s funding of private schools. With more than 51,000 teachers off the job and over 730,000 students affected, attention is turning to how education dollars are allocated.

Currently, Alberta provides up to 70 per cent of per-student funding to accredited private schools — the highest proportion in Canada. Critics argue this diverts much-needed resources from public classrooms, which already face overcrowding and underfunding. A citizen-led initiative, recently approved by Elections Alberta, is pushing for a referendum on whether taxpayer dollars should continue flowing to private institutions.

Supporters of the initiative, including parent groups and education advocates, say public funds should remain within the public system — which includes public, Catholic, and francophone schools open to all students without tuition fees. They argue that redirecting money back into public classrooms would help address shortages in staffing, resources, and supports.

Private-school advocates counter that many families who choose independent schools are middle- or low-income, and that these institutions often serve students with specialized learning needs. Removing funding, they warn, could limit access and place additional strain on the public system.

As the strike continues, the funding debate has become a flashpoint in Alberta’s broader struggle over the future of education — one that may soon be decided not just in the legislature, but at the ballot box.