Alberta’s current Grade 7–9 curriculum is outdated and no longer reflects the demands of our rapidly evolving world. In an era where over 70% of future jobs will require STEM skills and Canada faces a shortage of over 24,000 engineers by 2025, we cannot afford to treat science, technology, engineering, and math as secondary subjects.

Yet in many Alberta middle schools, hands-on learning in coding, robotics, and engineering remains missing entirely.

This failure to modernize disproportionately impacts students from low-income and underrepresented communities, many of whom cannot access extracurricular STEM programs. Without early, inclusive exposure to innovation and technical literacy, these students are denied opportunities to thrive in high-demand careers, widening the equity gap and limiting Alberta’s future.

We are calling on the Alberta Ministry of Education to:

-Integrate core STEM education (robotics, coding, and engineering) directly into the Grades 7–9 curriculum, not as an elective, but as a foundation.

-Prioritize hands-on, project-based learning that develops critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

-Provide training and resources for teachers so that every school, rural or urban, can deliver quality STEM education.

-Partner with existing local organizations and nonprofits to enrich the curriculum with real-world, accessible learning experiences.
The benefits of this shift are clear:

Higher student engagement and confidence in math and science.
Stronger pathways into high-paying, in-demand careers.

A more inclusive and innovative economy powered by homegrown talent.

A generation of problem-solvers equipped to lead Alberta into the future.
STEM is not just a subject,  it’s a toolkit for understanding and shaping the world around us. Every student in Alberta deserves access to that toolkit.