Minister unveils $3.1-billion plan for Alberta schools

(CBC) - Alberta's education minister unveiled an ambitious $3.1 billion, five-year plan for schools across the province Tuesday.

Gene Zwozdesky said the plan is the result of hundred of meetings with school boards across the province.

Zwozdesky is recommending that $1.4 billion be spent over five years on new or replacement schools, in addition to $900 million for preservation and modernization of existing schools.

The plan also includes $200 million over four years for state-of-the-art, steel framed, portable modular classrooms.

Zwozdesky said communities in the province are growing at a rapid rate due to Alberta's economic boom and the modular classrooms will provide a more immediate solution to the pressures on the school system.

The minister is also proposing that $520 million be put towards addressing obsolete or outdated facilities and $50 million to deal specifically with industrial arts programs.

Providing industrial arts classes with proper space and equipment will help get more students interested in skilled labour as a career and help address the labour crunch in the province, he said.

The proposed plan will now go to the provincial government, and the new premier, for consideration.

© the CBC, 2006