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Alberta Kindergarten to Grade 3 class sizes climbing

EDMONTON — New numbers show the average class sizes in Alberta for kindergarten to Grade 3 students is higher than the provincial guidelines.

EDMONTON — New numbers show the average class sizes in Alberta for kindergarten to Grade 3 students is higher than the provincial guidelines.

Back in 2006, the statistics show there was an average of 16.7 children in Edmonton Catholic classrooms.

Now it’s at 19.9 students, which is above the provincial guideline of 17 set by the Alberta Commission on Learning.

By comparison, in Edmonton public schools, the comparable class size is 19.8 students.

Education Minister Dave Hancock calls the increase disappointing.

He says the increase in enrolment in the younger grades is primarily due to a minor baby boom in the last six years.

Officials with Edmonton Public Schools say principals are trying to make class sizes manageable.

“I believe we’ve done as much as we possibly can with the resources we have. It would always be nice to make them a little bit lower but we think that this is really a manageable number for us,” said Edgar Schmidt, superintendent for Edmonton Public Schools.

Some parents worry the increase in class sizes may limit the amount of teacher-student interaction time.

Class sizes for other grades have stayed at about the same numbers for a few years, although high school class sizes appear to be creeping up at Edmonton Public Schools.

The provincial budget is set to be made public in about a month. Hanock says while education and health care are considered critical areas, money is tight and all programs will be looked at to see where changes can be made.

(CTV Edmonton)