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Edmonton school trustees, advocates want province to allow undocumented kids to enrol

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 May, 2025 01:55 PM
  • Edmonton school trustees, advocates want province to allow undocumented kids to enrol

Edmonton public school trustees have voted to push Alberta's government to make legislative changes to allow undocumented kids to enrol in school.

The vote comes after advocacy groups sent speakers and affected children to months of school board meetings to bring the issue to light.

Alberta Workers Association for Research and Education director Whitney Haynes says her organization is working with nine such children in the Edmonton area, though she knows more are out there.

Haynes says Canadian residency status can be a fluctuating process that can lead to lapses and leave kids undocumented, like when parents on temporary work visas are between jobs.

Alberta's education minister says most foreign children are eligible for public education in the province, but not all.

Demetrios Nicolaides says children have a right to education, but that doesn't necessarily mean education comes "free of charge."

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

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