The budget crisis in Alberta has led some to suggest cutting funding to private schools. This is a short-sighted and unfair idea.
Private schools are only partly financed by the province which does not cover capital costs and provides a per-student grant less than half of what public schools receive. Transferring those students enrolled in the private institutions to the public system would cost Alberta $168 million extra plus the cost of constructing new classrooms or schools to accommodate the 29,000 pupils. Those worried about class sizes now should consider the impact of adding that many new students.
