According to section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights,
francophone students have a right to be educated in French at
schools managed by francophones. Curriculum used in such schools
has been shaped to conform to the needs of these students, so
although the curriculum must comply with expectations outlined
by the Department of Education of Alberta, texts and programs
have been adapted to include specific material.
In the past, the time allotted for education in French was
very limited for children of French-Canadian ancestry and their
teachers, and the province-wide teacher organization, l’Association des Éducateurs bilingues de l’Alberta (AÉBA),
agonized over the limited choice of educational materials.
History books, readers, and grammars were usually ordered from
Quebec. Today the situation in Alberta has changed; the
Department of Education has developed three sections pertaining
to French language instruction: Francophone, French as a second
language, and French immersion.
The web site to consult for further information is
www.learning.gov.ab.ca/french |