Alberta classrooms to hire up to 800 more teachers, assistants

Alberta is investing in classrooms across the province by bumping up salaries for teachers, providing an incentive to boost enrolment numbers, and supporting francophone education.

The province plans to hires up to 800 more teachers and principals for the upcoming school year, which includes funding for teacher assistants, according to a government release.

The provincial government will give $50 million to support the increase in salaries for teachers, as part of the recent ratified bargaining agreement, with the goal of providing stability for school authorities.

“I’m thrilled to see more teachers and educational assistants will be hired in the coming school year. Alberta’s school board reserve policy has played an important role in directing today’s education dollars towards today’s students,” said Adriana LaGrange, Education Minister.

Alberta's government is providing school authorities with additional funding to support higher salaries for teachers, address enrolment growth, and support francophone education. Additionally, up to 1,600 more teachers and support staff will be hired in the new school year. #AbEd pic.twitter.com/ODoYtKA55O

— Adriana LaGrange (@AdrianaLaGrange) August 17, 2022

An added $7 million will be given to schools and early childhood services through a new enrolment growth grant which is gauged based on the number of students enrolled, says the statement.

And also, at least $5 million will be given to the francophone school boards to support francophone education in Alberta.

Read More:

• Helping teachers in Alberta ‘Clear The List’ of school supplies for their classrooms

• Alberta students excited for normal end to classes after COVID-19 disruptions

• Calgary schools struggling to find substitute teachers

“ASBOA welcomes the commitment to fund teacher collective agreements, and the additional funding to support enrolment growth and francophone education in Alberta. This announcement provides greater funding certainty for publicly funded education as we are about to start a new school year,” said François Gagnon, president of the Association of School Business Officials of Alberta.

The added funding will also be provided to school authorities to offset fuel costs so long as monthly average diesel prices exceed $1.25 per litre.