Alberta expects fewer teachers but more students in 2024-25 school year

The Alberta Teachers Association is warning about a possible classroom crunch next year with fewer teachers and more students expected in 2024-25. (File)

Now that the school year is wrapping up for thousands of Alberta students, officials say they're getting a better picture of a classroom crunch next year.

The Alberta Teachers Association (ATA) says there will be fewer teachers in 23 of the province's 46 school boards in the 2024-25 school year.

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It said 250 teaching positions are being eliminated, with one board cutting about 15 per cent of its teaching staff.

The ATA says it's a big problem.

"We cannot be cutting staff in growing school divisions when schools province-wide are expecting to receive 26,000 additional students next year," said ATA president Jason Schilling.

"The government made an election promise to hire 3,000 new education workers over the next three years; cutting teaching positions now fails our students and their learning."

Schilling says 17 of the school boards cutting teaching positions expect they will have more students than last year.

Thursday afternoon, Alberta education minister Demetrios Nicolaides sent the following statement to CTV News.

"School boards have the autonomy and accountability to manage their budgets and the hiring of staff to reflect and support the local needs of their communities and students.

"In most cases, staffing decisions are a reflection of increasing or decreasing enrolment.

"Our government is making record investments in education that will support the hiring of more than 3,000 teachers, EAs and educational staff to ensure every student has the support they need to succeed in the classroom.

"I’m always open to talking with our school boards and make improvements as necessary."