Both the Alberta government and striking teachers agree classrooms need improvement, but they remain divided on how to achieve it. CTV
The Alberta teachers’ strike has grown into a province-wide debate about classroom conditions, government priorities, and the strained relationship between educators and the provincial government. Both the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) and the government agree on the need to improve learning conditions but remain sharply divided on how to achieve it.
Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said research does not support mandatory limits on class sizes. “If we’re going to talk about class-size caps and say 23 is an appropriate number, then the argument is, why not 22 or why not 24? It’s really just an arbitrary number,” he said.
Nicolaides explained that studies only show clear benefits when classes drop below 17 students—a figure he says is unrealistic given Alberta’s fast-growing population. “We’re facing a significant influx of people joining the province,” he said. “My priority is hiring more teachers and educational assistants and building more schools.”
Teachers Push for Smaller Classes
Education expert Sarah Hamilton from Mount Royal University disagreed with the minister’s stance, saying smaller classes benefit students beyond test results. “For younger students, smaller classes improve learning and teacher-student relationships,” she said. “They help teachers spend more time with individual students and reduce disruptions in class.”
Hamilton added that overcrowded classrooms contribute to teacher burnout and high turnover rates. “Many teachers leave the profession within five years. Smaller classes can help keep them in the system,” she said.
According to Hamilton, Alberta stands out nationally for not having a legally mandated class-size cap or student-teacher ratio. “Only Alberta and Saskatchewan don’t have those limits,” she said.
ATA president Jason Schilling said teachers want a clear commitment from the government to establish formal student-teacher ratios. “What we asked for at the bargaining table was a ratio,” he said. “The government refused. The offer of 3,000 new teachers was a last-minute fix, and our members said it wasn’t enough.”
Schilling emphasized that smaller classes are vital for meeting diverse student needs. “If you have English language learners or students with disabilities, smaller classes let teachers give each student the attention they deserve,” he said.
Tensions at the Bargaining Table
Negotiations have become increasingly tense. Nicolaides accused ATA leaders of being out of touch with their members. “There’s a disconnect between the union leadership and classroom teachers,” he said. “Teachers know what’s needed, and we’re ready to support them.”
Schilling strongly rejected that claim. “We’re all working teachers in crowded classrooms. We know exactly what our members face,” he said.
Nicolaides said the province has already met most union demands, including hiring thousands of teachers and educational assistants. “We’re not that far apart,” he said. “We’re calling on the ATA to end the strike and return to negotiations.”
Schilling responded that teachers have already voted against the government’s proposal. “Ninety per cent of our members said no. That shows how strongly they feel that what’s offered isn’t enough,” he said.
Calls for Long-Term Solutions
Hamilton believes Alberta’s growing student population makes the situation urgent. “None of this will be solved overnight,” she said. “But as new schools are planned, we need to think strategically about class sizes. This can’t continue the way it’s going now.”
