More modular classrooms are on the way for schools across the province. The plan will see 189 modulars delivered over the next school year. They’ll hold about 5,400 students. The portability means they can be quickly deployed to where they’re needed most. The government has 161 school projects underway across the province, and the modulars will provide space until the new buildings are ready. “Student enrolment is growing, and we’re making sure schools can keep up. That’s why we’re building new schools across Alberta, with 161 projects underway right now. Modular classrooms help relieve crowding in the meantime, while permanent schools are built,” said Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides. The $600 million investment is part of the province’s $8.6 billion Schools Now program, designed to modernize more than 200,000 student spaces by 2031-32. Modular classrooms will eventually account for around 20,000 of those spaces, the province said in a media release. ‘Meaningful difference’ Laura Hack, the chair of the Calgary Board of Education, said adding modulars makes ‘a meaningful difference’ for Calgary students and families. “Forty-six modular classrooms add more than 1,100 learning spaces across 10 schools, nearly the equivalent of two elementary schools,” Hack said. “This means more students can attend school closer to home. The government is demonstrating a strong commitment to building student spaces and strengthening Calgary communities.”
