Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) president Jason Schilling released new research data in front of a monument to teachers on the legislature grounds in order to draw attention to next week’s budget.
The ATA’s pulse rapid research study found that classrooms continue to grow larger and more complex, while supports for students are disappearing, according to teachers.
“Teachers continue to report significant year-over-year growth in class size and complexity of diverse student needs. Ever since government stopped reporting class size data in 2019, teachers have seen crowded classes grow. The erosion of learning and teaching conditions must end; improvements are needed now.”
—Jason Schilling, ATA president
The survey reports that, compared to last school year
- 86 per cent of teachers report increased complexity in their classes,
- 62 per cent of teachers report larger class sizes, and
- 56 per cent of teachers report a decrease in supports for special educational needs.
Schilling says years of chronic underfunding have left schools with less while more students struggle. Unprecedented enrolment growth has gone underfunded at the same time as inflationary pressures are eating away at funds needed for classrooms.
“Alberta spends the least per student on education of any of the provinces in Canada — by far! Next week, we need budget increases that go well beyond inflation and enrolment growth. The government can’t claim poverty, and we can’t let them balance the budget on the backs of kids. Alberta students deserve better.”
—Jason Schilling, ATA president
As a result of untenable teaching and learning conditions, many teachers are choosing to leave the profession, said Schilling pointing to survey data showing large majorities of teachers are feeling stressed (89 per cent) and exhausted (93 per cent).
“We are in the midst of a growing teacher retention and recruitment crisis. The solution is to improve teaching conditions and it starts by fixing this enormous funding gap.”
— Jason Schilling, ATA president
The ATA pulse rapid research study reports on the results of a survey of 2,148 teachers and teacher leaders conducted between December 1 and 12, 2023. The random stratified sample is highly representative of Alberta teachers, producing a margin of error of +/-2.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
The Alberta Teachers’ Association, as the professional organization of teachers, promotes and advances public education, supports teachers’ professional practice and serves as the advocate for its 46,000 members.