On the second day of a teachers’ strike in Alberta, schools remain closed as the education minister shows willingness to negotiate additional staff hiring but remains cautious about setting limits on classroom sizes. Alberta’s education minister, Demetrios Nicolaides, expressed openness to discussions about increasing the number of new teachers and educational assistants beyond the initial proposal that was rejected by teachers last week.
Nicolaides stated that the government is willing to consider hiring 4,500 or even 4,000 teachers, and increasing the number of educational assistants from 1,500 to 2,000. However, he emphasized the importance of exploring further adjustments to meet the demands of teachers. Alberta Teachers’ Association president Jason Schilling highlighted the need for improved education funding and support for teachers to effectively carry out their duties, particularly addressing class size and complexity concerns.
The debate over capping class sizes has been a sticking point. Nicolaides argued against implementing set limits on classroom sizes, citing research suggesting minimal impact on student academic achievement. Despite historical recommendations to establish guidelines for average class sizes, recent years have seen a lack of updates in Alberta’s approach to class composition standards.
Schilling reiterated the ATA’s stance on the necessity of addressing class size issues and the need for additional educational staff in schools. He emphasized the importance of adequate resources and funding to enhance teacher effectiveness and create a conducive learning environment. Both Nicolaides and Schilling confirmed ongoing exploratory talks between the two sides as they work towards formal negotiations.
Jason Foster, a labor relations professor at Athabasca University, highlighted the underlying frustration among teachers due to deteriorating classroom conditions and inadequate support. He emphasized the need for Alberta to provide competitive working conditions to attract and retain educators. Foster warned that the current labor dispute could negatively impact the province’s reputation and hinder efforts to address the shortage of teachers effectively.