OP-ED: The harmful left-wing populism behind defunding independent schools

Dotan Rousso writes, "A growing movement in Alberta is calling for the elimination or sharp reduction of public funding for independent schools."

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Author: Dotan Rousso

A growing movement in Alberta is calling for the elimination or sharp reduction of public funding for independent schools. A citizen-initiative petition, recently approved by Elections Alberta, asks whether the government should “end its current practice of allocating public funds to accredited independent (private) schools.” The push comes mainly from teachers’ associations and public-school advocates who argue that taxpayer dollars should not subsidize schools that charge tuition and serve only a small portion of Alberta’s children. They claim the money could be better spent strengthening the public system, which already faces overcrowding and budget pressures.

The Alberta government has resisted this pressure. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides noted that defunding would force tens of thousands of students into an already strained public system. About five per cent of Alberta’s K–12 budget—roughly $461 million—is directed toward independent schools, a small share that, if removed, could create larger problems than it solves.

Alberta has about 180 private schools, representing roughly six per cent of all schools and serving around 45,000 to 50,000 students—just over five per cent of the total K–12 population. These schools vary widely—some faith-based, others Montessori or arts-focused—and many serve students with special needs or offer rigorous academics. In neighbouring British Columbia, a similar funding model has operated successfully for decades, helping to relieve pressure on the public system while preserving educational diversity.

Accredited private schools in Alberta receive up to 70 per cent of the per-student operational funding that public schools get. Parents cover the rest through tuition, usually between $7,000 and $15,000 per year, and some elite schools charge more than $20,000. In effect, families choosing private education already subsidize the public system by paying costs that taxpayers would otherwise bear.

But statistics alone don’t tell the full story. Behind the numbers lies a deeper question: what kind of education system do we want Alberta to have? One that enforces uniformity—or one that values diversity, excellence, and parental choice?

As a parent of children attending a non-denominational independent school in Calgary (the Renert School), I’ve seen firsthand how such schools enrich Alberta’s educational landscape. They offer smaller classes, specialized programs, and individualized learning that public schools—constrained by scale and bureaucracy—cannot always match. They cultivate excellence and prepare students for university and professional success. Supporting such diversity strengthens Alberta’s intellectual capital and economic competitiveness.

In a public system that increasingly prioritizes inclusivity and comfort—admirable goals that can, at times, lead to a lowest-common-denominator approach—private schools preserve ambition and diversity. They allow students to pursue paths aligned with their strengths and interests. Removing funding would deny many families these opportunities and push thousands of students into already crowded classrooms, raising costs and lowering quality.

The call to defund private schools is ultimately a populist appeal. It assumes most voters won’t examine the numbers or the consequences. In reality, private schools educate a small minority of Alberta’s children, receive only partial government support, and save taxpayers money. Penalizing families who make responsible, often difficult financial choices for their children’s education would be unfair and short-sighted.

The Alberta government deserves credit for resisting populist pressure. Supporting independent schools is not the easy choice, but it is the right one. These schools expand opportunity, not privilege; they lighten the load on the public system while fostering diversity and excellence. Defunding them would not create equality—it would create uniform mediocrity.