Alberta teachers report highest stress levels globally, survey finds

A new international report has revealed that Alberta teachers are experiencing the highest levels of work-related stress in the world, prompting renewed concern from the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA).

The findings come from the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS), conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which gathered data from educators in over 50 countries.

According to the report, 42 per cent of Alberta teachers reported experiencing “a lot of stress” in their jobs—more than double the global average of 19 per cent. Australia ranked second, with 34 per cent of its teachers reporting high stress levels.

The ATA says the results reinforce what educators in the province have been voicing for years: that mounting pressures in the classroom are taking a toll on their well-being.

“Alberta teachers are feeling stressed out, overworked and underappreciated by government,” said ATA President Jason Schilling in a statement. “Without urgent changes, teaching is quickly becoming a career that is unsustainable for many, despite their passion for teaching and supporting students.”

The survey also highlighted two key stress-inducing factors in Alberta schools:

• 63 per cent of teachers work in schools where more than 10 per cent of students speak a first language other than English.
• 67 per cent teach in schools where over 10 percent of students have special education needs.

Both figures are approximately 20 per cent higher than the global average, underscoring the unique demands placed on Alberta educators.

The union representing Alberta teachers and the provincial government’s bargaining committee met Tuesday for the first time since a provincewide strike began a week ago. As of Tuesday afternoon, neither side was able to provide details on the discussion.

The strike, in its sixth day, has kept some 740,000 students out of 2,500 schools.

With files from The Canadian Press