Alberta throne speech focuses on education, oil industry

Premier Alison Redfords government outlinedits agenda for Alberta this afternoonin the speech from the throne, focusing on education and Alberta's economic driver, the oil industry.

Lt.-Gov. Donald Ethell deliveredthe speech shortly after 3 p.m. MT.

The Redford government used today's throne speech to announce that it iscoming up with a new school
curriculum.

The province says it wants to make sure that Alberta students can compete with the world and will use a new"student-centred curriculum" to do it.

Controversial provincialachievement tests will bereplacedwith "student-learner assessments" which will focus onbasic numeracy and literacy.

The province also plans to build apipeline training facilitybilled as Canada's first-and-onlydedicated school teachingpipeline construction.

The government also announced the creation ofnew endowmentfunds to supportresearch and innovation in areas ofapprenticeships,agricultureand social issues such asfamily violence and poverty.

The details for all the initiatives will come in Thursday budget.