Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides speaks at a press conference in Calgary on May 26, 2025. Carolina Avendano/The Epoch Times
The Alberta government is introducing new legislation aimed at removing political and ideological agendas from classrooms while focusing on teaching fundamentals like reading, math, and science.
Bill 25 would mandate an impartial classroom teaching style and aims to protect educators from participating in activities that violate their personal beliefs, while also guaranteeing free speech for students, Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said during a March 31 press conference.
The legislation, dubbed the Act to Remove Politics and Ideology from Classrooms and Amend the Education Act, is meant to ensure education is free from personal bias, Nicolaides said.
“This bill reflects that schools should teach students how to think, not what to think,” he said. “Students should be able to explore ideas respectfully, hear different perspectives, and engage in conversation as long as they follow, of course, the applicable codes of conduct. That’s ultimately how we build critical thinking and respectful citizenship.”
The proposed act was tabled and received its first reading in the Legislative Assembly before the March 31 press conference. It must pass three readings in the legislature and receive royal assent before it can become law.
Students will still learn about politics and ideologies in the classroom, but in a neutral way that allows for “diverse viewpoints” to be brought forward, the minister said, noting that the legislation will help ensure educators’ personal opinions do not take over.
Nicolaides cited several instances of teachers allowing personal convictions to colour their teaching and commentary to students after a reporter asked for examples of educators pushing their own agendas.
The minister mentioned a recording that was leaked in 2023 during which a teacher at an Edmonton junior high school appeared to scold a Muslim student for not attending school during LGBT Pride celebrations.
The teacher reportedly talked about gay marriage being legal and then added, “if you don’t think that should be the law, you can’t be Canadian. You don’t belong here and I mean it,” according to the minister’s recollection of the recording.
Nicolaides also recounted an instance from earlier this year during which a teacher criticized people who support the oil and gas sector. He said the classroom is not the place for teachers to express such personal views and biases.
Nicolaides was then asked if teachers are “supposed to walk on eggshells” during classroom discussions.
“No, not at all,” he replied. “What we’re saying in the legislation is that when engaging in these conversations, we need to take steps to ensure that it’s being presented with balance and that diverse viewpoints are being brought forward and student thinking is challenged.”
Nicolaides added that the vast majority of teachers act professionally and following the new requirements wouldn’t be a problem for most.
Amanda Chapman, education critic for the Opposition NDP, told reporters after the government’s announcement that the administration of Premier Danielle Smith is out of touch with what is happening in schools and is legislating an issue that doesn’t exist.
“I don’t believe that this is some sort of persistent problem in our education system,” she said, referring to teachers pushing their own agendas. “It just comes down to a government, again, that really has all the wrong priorities.”
Alberta Teachers’ Association President Jason Schilling described the proposed legislation as “a grab-bag of amendments to the Education Act.”
“While vague, this legislation may impact teachers and school leaders directly and indirectly, positively and negatively,” Schilling said in a March 31 statement. “We need to look beyond the clickbait title of this bill to understand its full scope — it has very little to do with politics and ideology, at least in the classroom.”
Additional Changes
The legislation will also set provincial requirements for displaying flags and playing the Canadian national anthem in schools.
Schools will only be allowed to display the Canadian flag and the Alberta flag, although some exemptions may be considered if a flag reflects Alberta’s heritage and history. Schools must also play the Canadian national anthem weekly.
The proposed law would also establish principles for school board trustee codes of conduct that would include expectations for responsible governance and protection of freedom of speech for all trustees.
It will also address a rise in classroom violence by setting clear expectations for behaviour and may introduce stricter disciplinary measures. School boards will be held accountable if those standards are not followed, Smith said in a social meda post on April 1.
The bill would also require public school boards to seek approval from the ministry to name or rename schools.
Nicolaides said he doesn’t have a problem with existing school names but added that the province wants a say because it’s planning to build a large number of new schools in the coming years.
The bill also proposes to amend the 2024 Education Amendment Act so that external parties no longer need ministerial approval for teaching materials on gender identity, sexual orientation, or human sexuality if those materials are used specifically for religious instruction.