Schools should teach students how to think, not what to think says Nicolaides
By Lethbridge Herald on April 2, 2026.
Screenshot photo
Minister of education and childcare, Demetrios Nicolaides introduces Bill 25: An Act to Remove Politics and Ideologies from Classrooms and Amend the Education Act, during a press conference Tuesday afternoon.By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald
On Wednesday, Minister of Education and Childcare Demetrios Nicolaides introduced Bill 25: An Act to Remove Politics and Ideologies from Classrooms and Amend the Education Act.
Nicolaides said the bill has been introduced to help address challenges regarding violence in classrooms, along with concerns about neutrality and impartiality.
“This legislation improves accountability, protects students and keeps learning and safety the focus of our education system,” said Nicolaides.
He said Bill 25 will work to strengthen rules that will keep schools focused on learning, students’ safety, and respectful behavior.
“This bill reflects that schools should teach students how to think, not what to think,” said Nicolaides. “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.”
He said it will require education programming to be neutral, fair, and free from personal bias, and it will prevent school boards from taking public positions on political, social or ideological issues that are unrelated to the delivery of education.
“At the same time, it will protect school staff from being required to participate in activities that conflict with their personal beliefs, unless participation is part of the approved curriculum or instruction,” said Nicolaides.
He said school boards will be expected to stay focused on their core responsibilities and avoid taking positions on political or ideological issues that fall outside of their scope.
Nicolaides added that school boards will also be expected to ensure that student codes of conduct clearly prohibit violence of any kind and emphasize that students are responsible and have a role to play in preventing violence.
“I want to make something very clear, violence from students in schools will not be tolerated and this legislation reflects that,” said Nicolaides.
He said complexity teams will help with students that have challenges with emotional or behavioral regulation, but the school boards need to ensure a safe environment for students and staff.
“We’ve heard over and over again from teachers about instances of hitting, biting, kicking. And we have to ensure that school boards are prioritizing safe and orderly school environments in addition to providing students with customized supports when they need it,” said Nicolaides.
Bill 25 will also set province wide standards and rules on flags, where schools will be expected to display the Canadian flag and the Alberta flag, and the singing of the Canadian National anthem to occur on a weekly basis.
“These requirements reinforce the importance of shared civic symbols that unite students, that unite families and communities as Albertans and Canadians,” said Nicolaides. “Subsequent regulations will allow for exemptions and provide additional clarity, including definitions.”
Bill 25 will also allow the province to set clear education priorities and direct school boards to ensure stronger parental involvement.
“If passed, this bill will require school boards to meaningfully involve parents in student learning and decisions about non-instructional activities,” said Nicolaides.
He said schools will also be expected to fully implement and monitor provincial curriculum, ensuring instruction remains focused on essential knowledge.
“If passed, this bill will also require schools to provide supports for students that have been identified with reading or math gaps,” said Nicolaides.
Bill 25 will also increase oversight of school board trustees and require ministerial approval of Superintendent contracts.
22-21
Just the UCP agenda of taking over or shutting down organizations that may be critical of their failed policies. Politicians telling others not to be political. Hypocrisy at it’s finest.