Students at Vernon Barford Junior High School gathered on October 29, 2025, to show their support for teachers. CTV
Hundreds of students across Alberta are preparing to walk out of classrooms on Thursday to protest Bill 2, the Back to School Act. The legislation, passed early Tuesday, used the notwithstanding clause to force teachers back to work after a three-week strike that stalled contract talks.
The walkout is being organized by student groups who say they want to support their teachers and highlight the ongoing problems in Alberta’s education system.
Youth Voices Rising
Sixteen-year-old Matilda Barron, a leader of the Edmonton Student Advocacy Association (ESAA), said students feel they need to speak up.
“As students, we know what it’s like learning in these classrooms, and it’s really, truly unsustainable,” said Barron. “We’re fighting to continue making teachers’ voices heard while they can’t anymore.”
Barron said teachers play a crucial role in shaping the future generation. “They’re leading us into our futures,” she added. “If we don’t have a stable and healthy learning environment, we won’t be successful.”
The ESAA, which Barron helped found with her friends, has already organized several student-led demonstrations at the legislature. This latest action aims to bring attention to overcrowded classrooms, underfunding, and burnout among educators.
Walkouts and Sit-Ins Planned
Students plan to leave class during the school day in protest, but some schools will see sit-ins instead. At those schools, students will stay on campus but refuse to attend lessons or complete schoolwork.
Barron said the movement has grown quickly. “We’ve had students from all over Alberta contact us for help planning protests and walkouts,” she said. “It’s really beautiful to see how many of my peers are standing with our teachers.”
The Alberta Student-Walkout Association (ASA) has also joined the movement. Sixteen-year-old Kt Chilton, speaking on behalf of the ASA, said 45 schools have confirmed participation in Thursday’s walkout.
Students Speak Out
On Wednesday, dozens of students at Vernon Barford Junior High School in Edmonton rallied in support of teachers on their first day back in class.
“There are classrooms with 42 kids in them, and there’s just not enough support to go around,” said Grade 9 student Evelina Breckenridge. “Every school really needs help, so we wanted to come out, show our support, and try to make a difference.”
Teachers have long called for smaller class sizes and more resources for students with complex learning needs. Their collective agreement with the province expired in 2024, and negotiations have since stalled.
A Growing Movement
More than 740,000 Alberta students returned to school this week after the strike ended, but many remain concerned about the state of the education system.
Student organizers say they hope their peaceful demonstrations will encourage the government to listen to both teachers and students. “We’re the ones directly affected,” Barron said. “We just want better learning conditions for everyone.”
