The Alberta Teachers’ Association president has emphasized the importance of the provincial government funding class size recommendations dating back to 2003, a result of the province’s previous significant teachers’ strike. According to ATA president Jason Schilling, more than 5,000 teachers would need to be hired across the province’s public, Catholic, and francophone school divisions to achieve the recommended pupil-teacher ratios outlined in that report. Schilling expressed uncertainty about the government’s willingness to act on these numbers during a recent radio appearance.
As 51,000 teachers gear up for a potential strike on Monday, Schilling and Finance Minister Nate Horner indicated that further discussions between the teachers’ association and employers are unlikely before the strike date. Horner also clarified that there are no immediate plans to convene the legislature ahead of schedule to enforce back-to-work legislation on educators.
The Alberta Commission on Learning (ACOL) was established in response to concerns raised by educators following a 2002 strike involving 22,000 teachers across 22 Alberta school divisions. The commission recommended specific pupil-teacher ratios for different grade levels, emphasizing the importance of smaller class sizes in improving educational outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged students.
Recent data indicates a significant increase in Alberta’s student population, with a growth of 91,000 students, or approximately 12%, between 2020 and 2024. This surge in enrollment poses a challenge in meeting the recommended class size targets proposed by the ACOL report. The ongoing contract dispute also revolves around issues such as class size restrictions, teacher pay increases, and addressing the needs of students with disabilities, mental health challenges, or language barriers.
While the government has made commitments to fund additional teaching and educational assistant positions, the rejection of recent contract offers by a vast majority of ATA members underscores the ongoing tension. As the situation unfolds, it remains unclear what resolution both parties are willing to accept to address the pressing concerns raised by teachers regarding wages and learning conditions.
